Jun 25, 2026 | DAILY BREAD
Thursday of week 12 in Ordinary Time
Gospel: Matthew 7:21-29In today’s Gospel, Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount by teaching that true discipleship is built not merely on words, religious activities, or good intentions, but on a living relationship that leads to doing the will of the Father. He compares the wise person to one who builds a house upon rock. Storms, floods, and winds will come, but the house remains standing because its foundation is secure. The deepest foundation of the Christian life is the personal experience of God’s love. It is this encounter with the Father’s love in Christ that gives meaning to obedience, strength during trials, and perseverance in faith. Without this foundation, faith can become a collection of practices, ideas, or emotions that easily collapse when difficulties arise. But when a person has truly experienced being loved, forgiven, and accepted by God, faith becomes rooted in something unshakable. The storms of life do not disappear, but they no longer have the power to destroy. Jesus teaches with authority because He does not merely give instructions; He invites us into a relationship with the Father that transforms our lives from within. The more our lives are built upon the certainty of God’s love, the stronger and more enduring our faith becomes. Let’s reflect: Is my faith built upon a personal experience of God’s love that leads me to do His will, or is it resting mainly on habits, words, and religious practices that may not withstand the storms of life?
Don Giorgio
Jun 24, 2026 | DAILY BREAD
The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
Readings: Isaiah 49:1-6; Acts 13:22-26; Luke 1:57-66,80On the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, the Church celebrates not only the birth of a great prophet, but also the mystery of God’s call upon every human life. Through the words of Isaiah, “The Lord called me before I was born,” we are reminded that our lives are not accidents but part of God’s loving plan. Before John could speak, act, or choose, God had already entrusted him with a mission. In the Acts of the Apostles, we hear that God seeks people “after His own heart” who will carry out His purpose. John became such a person because he allowed his life to be shaped entirely by God’s will. This truth is beautifully revealed in the Gospel when his parents insist: “His name is John.” The name was not chosen according to family tradition but according to God’s command. His identity flowed from his mission, and his mission flowed from God’s call. John’s whole life was dedicated to preparing the way for Christ. The same is true for every Christian. Our deepest identity is not found in our achievements, preferences, or plans, but in the vocation, God has entrusted to us. The Lord knows us before we are born, calls us by name, and gives each of us a unique mission in His plan of salvation. The feast of Saint John the Baptist invites us to listen anew to God’s voice and to discover who we truly are by embracing the purpose for which He created us. Let’s reflect: Do I truly believe that God called me before I was born and entrusted me with a unique mission, and am I allowing my identity and daily choices to be shaped by His purpose rather than by my own plans and expectations?
Don Giorgio
Jun 22, 2026 | DAILY BREAD
Tuesday of week 12 in Ordinary Time
Gospel: Matthew 7:6,12-14In today’s Gospel, Jesus invites us to a path of wisdom, authenticity, and love. He teaches us to treat others as we ourselves would wish to be treated and encourages us to enter through the narrow gate that leads to life. This journey begins with knowing ourselves honestly before God. Only when we recognize our own dignity, weaknesses, desires, and need for mercy can we truly understand and welcome others. Self-knowledge protects us from projecting our fears and expectations onto those around us and helps us discern how to share what is holy with wisdom and respect. At the same time, the Gospel calls us to move beyond self-centeredness and open our hearts to others with generosity, empathy, and love. The narrow gate is precisely this path of genuine relationship: leaving behind selfishness, prejudice, and indifference in order to encounter others as brothers and sisters. The Golden Rule is not merely an ethical principle; it is an invitation to see others through the same compassion with which God sees us. True discipleship begins when we allow God’s love to reveal who we are and then let that same love flow outward in openness, respect, and service toward others. Let’s reflect: Do I know myself honestly before God and allow His love to open my heart to others, treating them with the same compassion, respect, and understanding that I desire for myself?
Don Giorgio
Jun 21, 2026 | DAILY BREAD
Monday of week 12 in Ordinary Time
Saints John Fisher, Bishop, and Thomas More, Martyrs
Saint Paulinus of Nola, Bishop ●
Gospel: Matthew 7:1-5In today’s Gospel, Jesus warns us about the folly of judging others: “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?” Judgment often arises from pride, insecurity, or the illusion that we fully understand another person’s heart, struggles, and intentions. Yet only God sees the whole truth. To judge others harshly is contrary to the fundamental commandment of Jesus: to love one another as He has loved us. Love seeks to understand before condemning, to accompany rather than exclude, and to show mercy instead of superiority. This does not mean ignoring wrongdoing or abandoning truth, but approaching others with humility, compassion, and awareness of our own need for forgiveness. Jesus invites us first to examine our own hearts, recognizing our weaknesses and allowing God’s grace to transform us. Only a humble heart can help others without wounding them. On the memorials of Saint John Fisher, Saint Thomas More, and Saint Paulinus of Nola, we remember men who lived with integrity and fidelity to the truth while remaining rooted in charity and humility. The Gospel reminds us that every judgment we make about others should pass through the lens of the mercy we ourselves have received from God. Let’s reflect: Do I look at others through the eyes of judgment and superiority, or through the eyes of Christ, allowing His mercy to help me recognize my own need for conversion before I judge anyone else?
Don Giorgio
Jun 21, 2026 | DAILY BREAD
- 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Jeremiah 20:10-13; Romans 5:12-15; Psalms 68; Matthew 10:26-33.
The readings of this Sunday invite us to replace fear with trust in the loving presence of God. The prophet Jeremiah (20:10–13) speaks from the midst of rejection, opposition, and suffering, yet he is able to proclaim with confidence: “The Lord is at my side.” His circumstances have not changed, but his certainty about God’s presence gives him the strength to continue and to sing praise even in difficulty. The Psalm reminds us that the Lord listens to the needy and never abandons those who seek Him. In the Letter to the Romans (5:12–15), Saint Paul reveals the deepest reason for our hope: through Jesus Christ, grace has entered the world as an abundant and freely given gift, overcoming the power of sin and opening the way to new life. God has not left humanity trapped in fear and brokenness; He has acted decisively through Christ to save and restore us. Therefore, in the Gospel (Matthew 10:26–33), Jesus repeats three times: “Do not be afraid.” We are precious in the eyes of God. Every hair on our head has been counted, and nothing in our lives escapes the loving attention of the Father. Christian courage does not come from self-confidence, but from the certainty that God knows us, loves us, and remains with us in every circumstance. Because we are held in His loving care, we do not need to be afraid to live for the Lord, to witness to our faith, or to entrust our future into His hands. Let’s reflect: When fear, uncertainty, or opposition arise, do I trust that the Lord is at my side, that His grace is sufficient for me, and that I am so precious to Him that even the hairs of my head are counted?
Don Gioegio
