Jul 9, 2026 | DAILY BREAD
Thursday of week 14 in Ordinary Time
Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and his Companions, Martyrs
Gospel: Matthew 10:7-15In today’s Gospel (Matthew 10:7–15), Jesus sends out His disciples with a clear mission: “Proclaim that the Kingdom of Heaven is close at hand… Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without charge; give without charge.” These words reveal the very heart of missionary discipleship. Everything we have received from Christ, faith, forgiveness, grace, hope, the sacraments, and the gift of salvation, is pure gift. None of it has been earned or purchased. Therefore, the Gospel can never become something we possess for ourselves or use for personal gain. A true missionary is one who freely shares what has been freely received. This generosity is not limited to priests or religious but belongs to every baptized Christian. We are called to give our time, compassion, forgiveness, encouragement, and witness without calculating the cost or expecting something in return. The memorial of Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and his companions reminds us that many disciples gave even their lives without reserve because they understood that Christ had first given Himself completely for them. The more deeply we recognize that everything is grace, the more freely we will become instruments of God’s generosity, making His Kingdom visible through lives that are marked not by possession, but by self-giving love. Let’s reflect: Do I recognize that everything I have received from Christ is a free gift, and do I generously share His love, mercy, and hope with others without expecting anything in return?
Don Giorgio
Jul 7, 2026 | DAILY BREAD
Wednesday of week 14 in Ordinary Time
Gospel: Matthew 10:1-7In today’s Gospel, Jesus calls the Twelve Apostles and entrusts them with His own authority “over unclean spirits, with power to cast them out and to cure all kinds of diseases and sickness.” This authority does not originate from the disciples themselves but from Christ, who continues His saving work through those He has chosen. This mission did not end with the Apostles. Through apostolic succession, Christ continues to act in His Church, proclaiming the Gospel, forgiving sins, celebrating the sacraments, healing wounded hearts, and freeing people from the power of evil. The Church is not merely a human institution; she is the living Body of Christ through which His grace continues to reach the world. We should therefore be deeply grateful for the gift of the Church, where we encounter the same Lord who called, sent, and empowered the Apostles. Every celebration of the Eucharist, every absolution in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, every proclamation of the Gospel, and every sincere act of charity is a sign that Christ is still working among His people. The Gospel invites us not to take these gifts for granted but to receive them with gratitude and to cooperate with the mission entrusted to the Church, so that the Kingdom of God may continue to be proclaimed and made visible in our world. Let’s reflect: Do I truly recognize with gratitude that Christ continues to heal, forgive, and lead His people through His Church, and do I actively cooperate with the mission He has entrusted to her?
Don Giorgio
Jul 5, 2026 | DAILY BREAD
Tuesday of week 14 in Ordinary Time
Gospel: Matthew 9:32-37
In today’s Gospel, Jesus heals the mute man and then looks upon the crowds with profound compassion. He sees beyond appearances and recognizes the hidden reality of their lives: “They were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd.” These words reveal the heart of Christ. He does not merely notice the physical presence of the people; He sees their loneliness, confusion, wounds, and longing for truth. His compassion is not simply an emotion but a love that moves Him to heal, teach, guide, and ultimately give His life for them. Jesus continues to look upon humanity with the same loving gaze today. He sees those who feel abandoned, burdened by sin, overwhelmed by suffering, or searching for meaning. He never remains indifferent to human misery. Instead, He invites His disciples to share His own compassionate heart and to pray “the Lord of the harvest to send labourers into His harvest.” Every Christian is called to see others as Christ sees them—not as problems to be solved or strangers to be ignored, but as beloved sons and daughters of God who need the care of the Good Shepherd. When we begin to see with the eyes of Christ, compassion naturally becomes action, and His love reaches the world through our lives. Let’s reflect: Do I look at the people around me with the compassionate eyes of Christ, seeing beyond their outward appearance to recognize their wounds, loneliness, and need for the Good Shepherd?
Don Giorgio
Jul 5, 2026 | DAILY BREAD
Monday of week 14 in Ordinary Time
Saint Maria Goretti, Virgin, Martyr
Gospel: Matthew 9:18-26In today’s Gospel, two miracles are united by one common thread: faith in the person of Jesus. A synagogue official believes that Jesus can restore his dead daughter to life, while a woman suffering for twelve years quietly says to herself, “If I only touch the fringe of His cloak, I shall be healed.” Her simple gesture changes everything. She does not rely on her own strength but on the saving power of Christ. Jesus immediately recognizes her faith and says, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has saved you.” The same Lord then raises the little girl from death, revealing that no situation is beyond His power. The fringe of Christ’s cloak has no magical power in itself; it is the living presence of Jesus that heals and restores. The woman’s touch becomes the outward expression of an inward trust that opens her life to God’s grace. Every encounter with Christ has the power to change everything when it is met with faith. Today we are invited to draw close to Jesus with the same confidence, in prayer, in the Eucharist, in His Word, and in the sacraments. Even the smallest act of faith that reaches out to Christ can become the beginning of a completely new life. Let’s reflect: Do I reach out to Jesus with the trusting faith that even the smallest encounter with Him can heal my wounds, restore my hope, and transform my life?
Don Giorgio
Jul 5, 2026 | DAILY BREAD
- 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Zechariah 9:9-10; Psalm 144; Romans 8:9,11-13; Matthew 11:25-30.The readings of this Sunday reveal that true peace begins when Christ reigns in our hearts. The prophet Zechariah (9:9–10) announces a King who comes in humility, not with weapons or earthly power, but bringing peace to all nations. Wherever the Lord is welcomed as King, peace replaces division, fear, and violence. The Psalm responds by praising the goodness of God, whose compassion extends to every creature. His kingship is not one of domination but of mercy, tenderness, and faithful love. Saint Paul, in the Letter to the Romans (8:9, 11–13), reminds us that through Baptism we have received the Spirit of Christ. We no longer belong merely to ourselves but to Christ, and His Spirit gives us the strength to leave behind the life of the flesh and live according to God’s will. The Gospel (Matthew 11:25–30) brings these themes to their fulfillment. Jesus reveals that the Father makes Himself known to the humble because the Son Himself is “gentle and humble in heart.” Pride closes the heart to God, while humility opens it to receive the Father’s love. To belong to Christ is therefore to allow His Spirit to form in us His own heart, gentle, humble, and trusting. When Christ truly reigns within us through the gift of the Holy Spirit, we become instruments of His peace, reflecting the compassion of the Father and discovering the rest that only Jesus can give: “Come to me… and you will find rest for your souls.” Let’s reflect: Do I allow Christ to reign in my heart through the Holy Spirit, so that I may grow in His gentleness and humility and become an instrument of His peace for others?
Don Giorgio
