Jul 11, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Friday of week 14 in Ordinary Time
Gospel – Matthew 10:16-23
“But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes; because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you”. There is always this worry, how to give witness. And that happens especially in the hard circumstances what Jesus is narrating. “Brother will betray brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise against their parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all men on account of my name”. It’s in those moments, we are worried how to react. It’s in those moments, we can go wrong in our witness. That is why Jesus is saying, “Remember, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be cunning as serpents and yet as harmless as doves”. So, what we must do? As Jesus says, “Don’t worry”, please become an instrument of the Spirit of the Father. Often our mistake lies in trying to show our strength or our capacities, instead of being an instrument of the Holy Spirit. Witness is not about out capacities but it’s about our being an instrument of the Holy Spirit. Let’s reflect: Is my witness to Jesus Christ, my being an instrument of the Holy Spirit or my show of my capacities?
Jul 10, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Saint Benedict, Abbot, Co-Patron of Europe
Gospel - Matthew 19:27-29
“And everyone who has left houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or land for the sake of my name will be repaid a hundred times over, and also inherit eternal life”. This is precisely the joy of Christian life. It’s not something exclusively about the eternal life. It also deals with the life here on earth at this present moment. The following of Jesus is not strictly related to the life after death. But it’s also related to the life here and now. What you left something for Jesus Christ, you will find it over hundred times now. Your leaving behind is not a matter of mourning but a matter of 100 times more joy. Your separation from certain things which gave your happiness will be transformed with Jesus Christ, reason to be happy 100 times more. So, following Christ is to be happy now and then also to inherit eternal life. This we can see in the life of real monks and consecrated people who left behind everything, but they are really happy and joyful. Let’s reflect: Do I recognize that following Christ is a reason to be happy here and now?
Jul 9, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Wednesday of week 14 in Ordinary Time
Gospel Matthew 10:1-7
“And as you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand”. This is the message of Jesus that must be preached. Inorder to preach this message, Jesus gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to cast them out and to cure all kinds of diseases and sickness. The authority which comes from Jesus is to proclaim the kingdom of heaven. Often, we forget the reason why we are given authority in the Church. But in the passage, we can clearly seen that the authority was given to only one end, “As you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand”. This proclamation needs to be attested by making the presence of God visible. The presence of God gives the assurance that kingdom of heaven is near. This can be done only when we with our authority make others feel the love of God and the hope in the Lord. Let’s reflect: Am I using the authority given to me to make present the love of God to others?
Jul 8, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Tuesday of week 14 in Ordinary Time
Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and his Companions, Martyrs
Gospel Matthew 9:32-37
“And when he saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd”. presents a vivid image of Jesus’ compassion for the multitudes. In this passage, Jesus sees the crowds and is deeply moved by their plight. They are described as “harassed and dejected”, evoking a sense of profound suffering and aimlessness. This imagery, “like sheep without a shepherd”, highlights their vulnerability and need for guidance. Here we can see Jesus’ true compassion which goes beyond superficial to the real engagement. Jesus’ compassion translates into a call for laborers to tend to the harvest, indicating the need for leaders who can provide the necessary guidance and support. This can be interpreted as a call to each of us to step into roles where we can help others find their way, whether through mentorship, community service, or simply being a source of support and kindness. Let’s reflect: Am I stepping up to the situation where others are left like sheep without shepherd?
Jul 7, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Monday of week 14 in Ordinary Time
Gospel Matthew 9:18-26
“While Jesus was speaking, up came one of the officials, who bowed low in front of him and said, ‘My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and her life will be saved.’ The death of his daughter did not take out the hope from his life. He came to Jesus and bowed low and asked Jesus to lay His hand on her. This is the deep of faith. This is the profoundness of faith. The deeper the reason to despair, the deeper is the faith to overcome the despair. The true faith shines brightest in our darkest moments. It suggests that when circumstances seem most dire, a profound faith can provide hope and the strength to seek solutions, even when they seem impossible. When faced with significant hardships, such as the death of a loved one, it can be easy to succumb to despair. But even these very hardships serve as a catalyst for developing a stronger faith. This faith provides the anchor in these moments of despair, offering a sense of hope and purpose that transcends the immediate circumstances. This hope is not just wishful thinking but a deeply rooted belief that Jesus can make a difference in our life which is passing through difficult times. Let’s reflect: Do I succumb easily to despair, or do I have faith in Jesus all times?
