Feb 13, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Ash Wednesday
Gospel – Matthew 6:1-6,16-18
Today is the day to bring the Lenten Season. This is a spiritual journey from slavery to freedom, paralleling the biblical exodus with the personal and communal journey of Lent as Pope Francis says. God wants our liberation from both physical and spiritual bondage, as exemplified by the Israelites’ escape from Egypt and their receipt of the Ten Commandments. This is the path of each one of us to liberate ourselves from sin and suffering. This calls for a renewal of hope and a commitment to change, both personally and communally, encouraging actions that reflect a genuine love for God and neighbour. In the Gospel of today, we hear from the words of Jesus, that this journey must be based on a personal relationship with God the Father and not based only on external actions or observations. What is important is to create a personal relationship with God the Father. This is important to understand the plan of God for us which is realized in paschal mysteries of Jesus Christ. Let’s reflect: Lent must be a journey into a profound relationship with God the Father.
Feb 12, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Tuesday of week 6 in Ordinary Time
Gospel – Mark 8:14-21
“‘Keep your eyes open; be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.’ And they said to one another, ‘It is because we have no bread.’”. Jesus here is warning against our possibility of becoming hypocrites. The yeast of Pharisees is the multiplication of acts which does not have any meaning. But the disciples misunderstood it. They thought Jesus is referring to the bread. Even though Jesus multiplied the bread, they forgot about it and misunderstood the message of Jesus about the danger of the yeast of hypocrisy. Jesus is cautioning against adopting the hypocritical and superficial practices of the Pharisees. The Pharisees were known for their strict adherence to the letter of the law, often missing the spirit of the law. They focused on external rituals and practices, neglecting the more important aspects of faith such as justice, mercy, and faithfulness. Jesus criticizes this approach and calls for a faith that is genuine and rooted in love rather than one that is performative or for show. The disciples often take Jesus’ metaphors and teachings at face value, missing the deeper spiritual significance. This misunderstanding serves as a reminder of the human tendency to focus on the material and immediate concerns over the spiritual and eternal truths. Let’s reflect: We must not focus on on material needs or concerns, but we prioritize the importance of spiritual growth and understanding.
Feb 12, 2024 | POSITIVE IMPULSES
Relationship to God must be as a relationship to our Creator who accompanies us always, who know us as we are, and who accepts us as we are. But often we relate ourselves to God based on a set of rules and norms. Or based on our devotional activities. This makes our relationship to God without life. The rules, norms, and devotional activities serve as pathways or methods to engage with God, but they are not substitutes for a genuine, living relationship with God. This distinction is crucial for a heartfelt and transformative faith journey. The danger lies in conflating the means with the end. When the focus on external practices becomes the entirety of one’s spiritual life, it can lead to a form of religiosity that lacks the personal, intimate connection that lies at the heart of a meaningful relationship with God. This requires an open heart, a willingness to listen and respond, and the cultivation of an ongoing, dynamic interaction with God. It’s about allowing those practices to transform us, fostering a heart-to-heart connection with God that informs and enriches every aspect of our lives.
Don Giorgio
Feb 12, 2024 | NEWS
After two years of training as residential area managers
we are delighted at St. Hedwig in Cochem
with our employee Annika and our employee Fabian
for passing their exams so well.
For the official graduation and certificate handover, our nursing service manager Ms. Nuppeney and I were at the Caritas Association
in Trier.
I had wonderful encounters there with many highly qualified lecturers and motivated course participants.
It was a great enrichment for me to be there.
I am grateful for all our
precious employees we have in our company.
that we have in our company
and continue to look forward to the good cooperation with them.
Sister M. Felicitas
Feb 11, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Monday of week 6 in Ordinary Time
Gospel – Mark 8:11-13
Jesus said “I tell you solemnly, no sign shall be given to this generation”. Faith is not a search of signs. Because faith is a relationship of trust. Faith in Jesus is not something to be built upon signs. It should be built on our total trust in Him. When you are searching for signs, it signifies there is doubt. There is no relationship. It’s not the signs that brings faith. Faith brings signs. This approach to faith is about a deep, personal relationship with Jesus, marked by trust, love, and commitment, without the necessity of constant external validation through signs. This kind of faith is transformative, capable of bringing about signs and wonders as a by-product, rather than a precondition. It’s about believing in God’s sovereignty and goodness, regardless of circumstances or the visibility of miracles. In this view, faith is both a gift and a choice, a decision to trust in Jesus and His word, even when external evidence seems absent or contrary to hope. Let’s reflect: Faith is relationship with Jesus and not the result of signs or wonders.
