Jul 10, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
Thursday of week 14 in Ordinary Time
First reading Genesis 44:18-21,23-29,45:1-5
Today’s reading brings us to a powerful and emotional turning point, Joseph revealing his identity to his brothers. It is a moment filled not with bitterness, but with deep joy and peace, as Joseph sees clearly the hand of God in all that has happened. The years of betrayal, slavery, and hardship now converge into a single revelation: that God was guiding everything for a greater good. Joseph’s words, “It was not you who sent me here, but God,” show the freedom that comes when we allow divine purpose to redefine our past. There are moments in our own lives when, after walking through confusion and pain, light breaks through and we begin to understand why certain things happened. These moments are not always frequent, but when they come, they are filled with peace, healing, and often tears of gratitude. Today, we are invited to reflect with hope and patience on our own journey, trusting that even what we don’t yet understand is held in the loving hands of a God who will one day make all things clear and beautiful. Let’s reflect: Am I open to recognizing God’s hand at work in my past and present, even in painful moments, trusting that He is guiding everything toward a greater good?
Don Giorgio
Jul 9, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
Wednesday of week 14 in Ordinary Time
Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and his Companions, Martyrs
First reading Genesis 41:55-57,42:5-7,17-24
In today’s reading, we see Joseph face the very brothers who once betrayed him, not with vengeance, but with a heart moved to tears. Though he has risen to power in Egypt, his strength lies not in his position but in his ability to recognize the hand of God at work through his suffering. Joseph weeps, not out of weakness, but out of deep awareness that everything he endured was not in vain, but part of a greater plan of redemption. He sees that what was once meant for harm, God has used for good. This moment invites us to reflect on our own past wounds and injustices. Can we look at them through the lens of God’s providence, as moments through which He may be shaping a greater purpose? Like Joseph, we are called to let grace transform pain into compassion, and memory into mercy. To recognize God’s plan is not to deny the hurt, but to see beyond it, toward the healing, the reconciliation, and the silent wisdom of a God who never wastes anything. Let’s reflect: Can I look at the wounds and struggles of my past through the eyes of faith, trusting that God is using them as part of a greater plan for healing and redemption?
Don Giorgio
Jul 8, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
Tuesday of week 14 in Ordinary Time
First reading Genesis 32:23-33
In today’s reading, we witness the mysterious and intense encounter between Jacob and God, a struggle through the night that ends not in defeat, but in blessing. Jacob’s words, “I will not let you go unless you bless me,” reveal a heart that clings with faith, not only to God’s power, but to God’s goodness and love. This moment of wrestling speaks to our own inner battles, times when we struggle with fears, questions, or pain, yet refuse to let go of our trust in God’s desire to bless us. What makes the difference in Jacob is not just his belief in God, but his deep conviction that he is loved by God and therefore worthy of that blessing. This faith, both in God’s love and in his own identity as loved, transforms him into Israel—a new name, a new purpose. Today, we are invited to reflect on our own faith, to believe not only that God loves, but that we are truly loved by Him. Let’s reflect: Do I truly believe that I am personally loved by God, and do I cling to that truth even during struggle and uncertainty?
Don Giorgio
Jul 7, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
Monday of week 14 in Ordinary Time
Today’s reading from Genesis presents Jacob’s dream of a ladder reaching from earth to heaven, with angels ascending and descending, a powerful image that the Church has long seen as a symbol of the Church itself. The Church is not merely a human institution or a gathering of like-minded believers; it is the living space where heaven touches earth, where grace descends and prayer rises, where God speaks and humanity responds. In this holy encounter, Jacob awakens in awe and exclaims, “This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven!” Each time we enter the Church, whether physically or spiritually, we are drawn into this same mystery. Through the sacraments, the Word, and the communion of believers, we experience God’s nearness and His desire to dwell among us. Today, we are invited to renew our reverence for the Church, not as a building, but as a sacred space where the ladder of grace remains ever open, drawing us into deeper union with God and with one another. Let’s reflect: Do I approach the Church with the awe and reverence it deserves, recognizing it as the place where heaven meets earth and God draws near to me?
Don Giorgio
Jul 6, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
14th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Isaiah 66:10-14; Galatians 6:14-18
On this 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time, the readings invite us to rest in the tender and powerful love of God, a love that promises peace like a river and comfort as intimate as a mother’s embrace. Isaiah’s words speak of a God who does not remain distant, but who comes close to console, to nourish, and to restore. Saint Paul then directs our gaze to the Cross of Christ, proclaiming it as the only thing worth boasting about, because it is the fullest and most personal expression of divine love. In the Cross, we see a love that suffers with us, redeems us, and transforms our pain into hope. This love is not abstract, it flows, it embraces, it heals. Today, we are called to let go of all other sources of pride or security and find our true peace and identity in the love revealed on the Cross. When we do, we discover that God not only comforts us but empowers us to be instruments of His peace in a restless world. Let’s reflect: Do I truly find my peace and identity in the love of Christ crucified, or am I still seeking comfort and worth in things that cannot satisfy?
Don Giorgio
