Friday 7 November

Friday 7 November

Friday of week 31 in Ordinary Time
Reading: Romans 15:14-21
Saint Paul’s words in this passage reveal the humility and zeal of a true apostle, one who recognizes that every success, every conversion, and every good work flows entirely from Christ. “I will not dare to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me,” he says, acknowledging that the spread of the Gospel from Jerusalem to distant lands was not his achievement but the work of the Spirit through him. This is the model of authentic Christian service: to act boldly, but never boastfully; to labor with passion, but always in dependence on grace. Paul’s life teaches us that mission is not about personal recognition or results but about allowing Christ to work freely through our words, deeds, and witness. When we let go of the need to control outcomes or claim credit, our lives become instruments of divine power, quiet channels through which God continues to reach hearts and transform the world. Let’s reflects: Do I recognize that everything good accomplished through me belongs to Christ, allowing His Spirit, not my pride to guide and sustain my mission?

Don Giorgio

Thursday 6 November

Thursday 6 November

Thursday of week 31 in Ordinary Time
First Reading: Romans 14:7-12
Saint Paul’s words in Romans remind us of a profound truth: our lives and deaths belong entirely to the Lord. “Whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.” This awareness should free us from the temptation to judge or look down on others, for we are all held by the same mercy and destined to stand before the same just and loving God. Life becomes sacred when we see it as belonging not to ourselves but to Him who created and redeemed us. Judging others, then, becomes an act of forgetfulness, forgetting that only God sees the full story of every heart. To live with this awareness is to walk in humility and reverence, grateful for the gift of belonging. Each person we meet is someone for whom Christ died and rose again. Instead of judgment, we are called to compassion; instead of superiority, to solidarity in the Lord who holds all life in His hands. Let’s reflect: Do I live each day with the awareness that my life and the lives of others belong completely to God, allowing this truth to replace judgment with humility and love?

Don Giorgio

Wednesday 5 November

Wednesday 5 November

Wednesday of week 31 in Ordinary Time
Reading: Romans 13:8-10
Saint Paul distills the essence of the Christian life into one simple yet all-encompassing command: “Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another.” Love is not an optional virtue, it is the fulfillment of the law, the heartbeat of every authentic relationship with God and others. This love is not sentimental or selective; it is active, self-giving, and faithful, reflecting the very love of Christ who gave Himself for all. When we love, we no longer live bound by rules but guided by the Spirit of freedom that transforms every commandment into an act of compassion. Love becomes the debt we are never meant to repay fully, for it is renewed daily in service, forgiveness, and understanding. To live in love is to allow Christ’s presence to dwell in us, turning even the smallest gesture into an echo of divine mercy. Let’s reflect: Do I live with the awareness that love is my greatest and ongoing debt, to God, to my neighbour, and to the world entrusted to my care?

Don Giorgio

Tuesday 4 November

Tuesday 4 November

Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop
Tuesday of week 31 in Ordinary Time
Readings: Romans 12:5-16ab
Saint Paul’s image of the Church as one body with many members is both beautiful and demanding. Each of us is uniquely gifted, yet our gifts find their purpose only when used in love for the unity and growth of the whole. “We are one Body in Christ,” Paul writes, and he describes what that truly looks like: sincere love, mutual affection, patience in hardship, perseverance in prayer, generosity, and hospitality. This is not just moral advice, it is the rhythm of Christian life, where diversity becomes harmony through the Spirit. Saint Charles Borromeo embodied this vision through his tireless pastoral care, bringing reform, education, and compassion to a divided Church. He reminds us that unity is not uniformity but the fruit of love that embraces difference. When we live this way, fervent in spirit and first to love, the Body of Christ becomes a living witness to the world of God’s goodness and mercy. Let’s reflect: Do I use the gifts God has given me to build unity in the Body of Christ through love, patience, and service, or do I let pride and indifference weaken the harmony of this divine family?

Don Giorgio

Monday 3 November

Monday 3 November

Monday of week 31 in Ordinary Time
Saint Martin de Porres, Religious
Reading: Romans 11:29-36
Saint Paul’s words in Romans remind us of the astonishing depth of God’s mercy, His plan of redemption that transforms even disobedience into a path toward grace. “For God delivered all to disobedience, that He might have mercy upon all.” This is the great paradox of salvation: our weakness becomes the very place where divine mercy reveals its power. Humanity’s failure does not frustrate God’s plan; it becomes the occasion for His compassion. Saint Martin de Porres lived this mystery with quiet humility and love, turning human brokenness into an opportunity for kindness and healing. He reflected the heart of a God who stoops down not to condemn, but to lift up. When we accept that we are all in need of mercy, we discover the unity that binds us, no one is excluded from the embrace of God’s compassion. In this humility, we find both freedom and peace, for everything begins and ends in mercy. Let’s reflect: Do I let the awareness of my own weakness open my heart to God’s mercy and to compassion for others, or do I still struggle to accept that redemption flows through humility and grace?

Don Giorgio