Jul 30, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Tuesday of week 17 in Ordinary Time
Saint Peter Chrysologus, Bishop, Doctor
Gospel Matthew 13:36-43
In this Gospel passage Jesus is explain the parable about the darnel in the field. There are different elements in the parable which we can meditate. Let’s concentrate on the good seed. The sower of the good seed is the Son of man. The good seed is the subjects of the kingdom. The good seed must live together with the weed that is sowed by the devil. The coexistence of the good seed with the darnel is not damaging the good seed. They are growing together. Only that at the time of the harvest, the weed is collected and thrown into the blazing furnace. The fruits of the good seed are together with the Father in the Kingdom of God. Often, we are worried about the weeds among us. The evil in the world. The conflicts, the wars, the injustice etc. These are realities in the world sowed by the devil. But don’t worry, the good seed sowed by the Son of God will survive. Because the world is saved by Jesus Christ. So, don’t be pessimistic about the presence of evil in the world. That’s predicted by Jesus. Only remember that the world is saved by Jesus and the good seed is sown by Him. The good will prevail. Let’s reflect: How often am I pessimistic about the evil in the world forgetting that the world is saved by Jesus Christ?
Don Giorgio
Jul 28, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus
Monday of week 17 in Ordinary Time
Gospel John 11:19-27
Today we are celebrating the Feast of the Bethany family – Martha, Mary and Lazarus. In the conversation between Martha and Jesus, we understand the fundamental truth about the identity of Jesus. He reveals Himself, “I am the resurrection and the life”. In Jesus is the life and the resurrection. Beyond death the only reality is Jesus Christ. And through Him we will be raised, and we will have life. “If anyone believes in me, even though he dies he will live, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die”. This must be in our mind always in our relationship with Jesus. To this revelation, Martha fully adhered herself. She said, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who was to come into this world”. When she said that her brother was still in the tomb. But she believed in the words of Jesus and Lazarus was brought back to life. This is the faith. We believe in the Lord, and we will have life. “Whoever lives and believes in Jesus will never die”. The hope of those who believe in Jesus will never die. The happiness of those who believe in Jesus will never die. The patience of those who believe in Jesus will never die. They will live a life of resurrection already here in sense of the living in a positive realm. Let’s reflect. How much I remember that Jesus is the resurrection and the life in my dark moments?
Don Giorgio
Jul 27, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Gospel John 6:1-15
“Jesus, who could see they were about to come and take him by force and make him king, escaped back to the hills by himself”. This is very important passage in the Gospel. This proves that the way of the cross is the will of God. Jesus could have performed miracles and gained the power. Then salvation will be result of power. But salvation is a result of love. The love of God towards the humanity. The love of God which incarnates in our reality of hunger and multiplies the bread to be fed. Jesus escaped back to the hills by himself because he did not want to become the king by his miracle. He wants to be the King on the cross by shedding His last drop of blood for the humanity. This is also a situation we face in our life. We are faced with finding solution with power or the cross. The power is inflicting pain on others. The cross is accepting the pain for oneself for others. The power is controlling others. The Cross is being at the service of others. Let’s reflect: What do I prefer, power to solve the problem or the cross to transform the problem into an opportunity to love more?
Don Giorgio
Jul 26, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Saturday of week 16 in Ordinary Time
Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Gospel – Matthew 13:24-30
“Let them both grow till the harvest; and at harvest time I shall say to the reapers: First collect the darnel and tie it in bundles to be burnt, then gather the wheat into my barn”. This shows the mercy of God which allows us to use our freedom which is given by God to make our choices both good and bad. The good choices have good consequences, and the bad choices have bad consequences. But God with His infinite patience, gives us time to repent for our bad choices until the last minute. Actually, God is protecting us from the consequences of our bad choice until the last minute. Maybe we are not seeing the consequences of our bad choices because God is welcoming us to repent. God is letting us to grow more in the grace and in our good choices. God always wants the best in us. But the freedom always gives us the possibility to choose between good and bad. Let’s choose good. If we chose bad, let’s repent. Let’s reflect: How much am I aware about the bad choices I make in my life?
Don Giorgio
Jul 25, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Saint Joachim and Saint Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Friday of week 16 in Ordinary Time
Gospel – Matthew 13:16-17
“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Happy are your eyes because they see, your ears because they hear! I tell you solemnly, many prophets and holy men longed to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it.’” Today we are celebrating the Feast of St. Joachim and Saint Anne, parents of Mother Mary. They are the most blessed parents on earth. Because they gave birth to the Mother of God. They are unique. They are so blessed. But we are also called to the same sainthood. What’s this call? This call is to see the grace of God in every moment of our life. Happy are the eyes because they see the presence of God in our daily life. Happy are the ears because they hear the voice of God in our daily life. This is the beauty of Incarnation. God is not alien to anyone. The presence of God is to everyone. There is no exclusivity. Everyone is included in the plan of God. Joachim and Anne are blessed. So are we because we are also called to see and hear the presence of God in our daily life. Let’s reflect: Do I feel happy because of what I see and what I see because I see the presence of God and I hear the voice of God in my daily life?
Don Giorgio
