Jul 4, 2026 | DAILY BREAD
Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Saturday of week 13 in Ordinary Time
Saint Elizabeth of Portugal
Gospel: Matthew 9:14-17In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks of new wine that must be poured into fresh wineskins. With these simple images, He reveals that the new life He brings cannot be contained within old ways of thinking, living, or relating to God. The Gospel is not merely a new teaching added to our existing habits; it is the beginning of a new way of being. Christ does not come simply to improve our lives but to transform them from within. This transformation requires hearts that are open, humble, and willing to be renewed by the Holy Spirit. Old patterns of selfishness, fear, pride, or rigid religiosity cannot contain the joy and freedom of the Kingdom. Like fresh wineskins, we are called to become receptive to God’s grace, allowing Him to reshape our minds, hearts, and relationships. On this memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we contemplate the perfect example of a “new wineskin.” Mary welcomed God’s new plan with complete openness, allowing His Word to take flesh in her life. Likewise, Saint Elizabeth of Portugal lived this renewed life by becoming an instrument of reconciliation and charity. The Gospel challenges us not merely to accept Christ’s message but to become new people, so that His new wine may bear abundant fruit in us and through us. Let’s reflect: Am I allowing Christ’s Gospel to renew my whole way of being, or am I trying to contain His new life within old patterns of fear, pride, selfishness, and rigidity?
Don Giorgio
Jul 3, 2026 | DAILY BREAD
Saint Thomas, Apostle – Feast
Gospel: John 20:24–29
On the feast of Saint Thomas, the Gospel leads us from doubt to one of the most profound professions of faith in the New Testament. When the risen Jesus appears to Thomas and invites him to touch His wounds, Thomas responds with the words, “My Lord and my God!” This is more than a declaration of belief; it is a perfect act of adoration. In these few words, Thomas recognizes both the humanity and the divinity of Christ. He does not simply acknowledge that Jesus has risen; he surrenders himself before the One who is truly God. Every time we come before the Eucharist, these words can become our own. True adoration is not merely looking at Jesus but recognizing Him with the eyes of faith and entrusting our whole lives to Him. Jesus then proclaims a blessing that reaches every generation: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” We belong to that blessed company. Our faith rests not on physical sight but on the living witness of the Apostles and the presence of the risen Christ in His Church. Like Thomas, we are invited to let every doubt become a deeper encounter with Christ until our hearts can sincerely proclaim, “My Lord and my God!” Let’s reflect: When I stand before Jesus, especially in the Eucharist, can I sincerely adore Him with all my heart and say, “My Lord and my God,” entrusting my whole life to Him?
Don Giorgio
Jul 1, 2026 | DAILY BREAD
Thursday of week 13 in Ordinary Time
Gospel: Matthew 9:1-8
In today’s Gospel, Jesus heals the paralytic, but before restoring his body, He first says, “Take courage, my son; your sins are forgiven.” The scribes immediately recognize the significance of these words, for only God can forgive sins. To reveal His divine identity, Jesus performs the visible miracle of healing, proving that He possesses the invisible authority to forgive. The physical healing becomes a sign of an even greater reality: Jesus is God, who has come to restore the whole person. He heals not only wounded bodies but also wounded hearts, burdened consciences, and broken relationships with God. Sin is the deepest paralysis of the human soul, and forgiveness is its greatest liberation. By forgiving and healing, Jesus reveals the heart of God, who desires not merely to relieve our suffering but to restore us completely. Every encounter with Christ is therefore an invitation to experience both His mercy and His power. The same Lord who forgave the paralytic continues to forgive us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and strengthen us with His healing grace. The Gospel invites us to approach Jesus with confidence, believing that the One who stands before us is not only a compassionate man but the Son of God, who alone has the power to forgive sins, heal every wound, and make all things new. Let’s reflect: Do I truly believe that Jesus is God, who alone has the power to forgive my sins and heal every wound of my life, and do I approach Him with the trust to let Him restore me completely?
Don Giorgio
Jul 1, 2026 | DAILY BREAD
Wednesday of Week 13 in Ordinary Time
Gospel: Matthew 8:28–34
In today’s Gospel, Jesus delivers two men from the power of demons, restoring their freedom, dignity, and humanity. Yet instead of rejoicing over this extraordinary act of mercy, the people of the town focus only on the loss of their herd of pigs and beg Jesus to leave their region. They see the economic loss but fail to recognize the immeasurable value of two lives that have been saved. This Gospel reveals how easily our perspective can become distorted. When material interests, comfort, or personal security become our highest priorities, we may overlook the miracles of grace taking place before our eyes. We can become more concerned about what we have lost than grateful for what God has restored. Jesus always places the human person above possessions, profit, or convenience, because every person is created in the image of God and is worth infinitely more than any earthly possession. The Gospel invites us to examine what we truly value. A heart shaped by Christ rejoices whenever a person is healed, restored, or brought back to God, even if this requires sacrifice or changes our own plans. Nothing we surrender for the sake of the Kingdom can ever compare with the joy of seeing a human life set free by the mercy of God. Let us reflect: When God works in ways that cost me something, do I focus more on what I have lost than on the people He has healed, restored, and brought back to life through His grace?
Don Giorgio
Jun 30, 2026 | DAILY BREAD
Tuesday of week 13 in Ordinary Time
The First Martyrs of the See of Rome
Gospel: Matthew 8:23-27
In today’s Gospel (Matthew 8:23–27), the disciples find themselves overwhelmed by a violent storm while Jesus sleeps peacefully in the boat. After calming the wind and the sea with a simple command, Jesus leaves them astonished, and they ask: “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey him.” This question leads to the very heart of Christian faith. Jesus is truly man, He grows tired, sleeps, shares our human condition, and journeys with His disciples. Yet He is far more than man. His authority over creation reveals His divine identity. The One who commands the sea is the same Lord who created it. The Gospel invites us to move beyond seeing Jesus merely as a wise teacher, a moral example, or a historical figure. He is the Son of God, present with us, possessing power over nature, evil, sin, and death itself. This faith gave strength to the First Martyrs of the See of Rome, whom we commemorate today. They entrusted their lives to Christ because they knew He was not simply a man worth admiring, but God worthy of absolute trust and total self-giving. Every storm in our lives becomes an invitation to renew this same profession of faith: the One who is in our boat is not only our companion in suffering but also the Lord who has the power to bring peace where we see only fear and chaos. Let’s reflect: When I face the storms of life, do I truly believe that Jesus is not only my companion but also my God, whose word has the power to calm every fear, overcome every obstacle, and bring lasting peace?
Don Giorgio
