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
Jul 5, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary
First Saturday – let us entrust ourselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Saturday of week 13 in Ordinary Time
Saint Antony Mary Zaccaria, Priest
First reading Genesis 27:1-5,15-29
The story of Jacob deceiving his father Isaac is one of the most enigmatic episodes in the Bible—a moment filled with human weakness, manipulation, and broken trust. And yet, mysteriously, God allows it to unfold as part of His greater plan. This passage challenges our understanding of how divine providence works; it reminds us that God does not only work through the pure and the perfect, but often through flawed choices, tangled relationships, and even mistakes. Rather than endorsing deception, God reveals that His grace is not limited by human failure. He weaves redemption even through the messiness of human history. In our own lives, we may carry regrets or witness situations that seem confusing or unjust, but today we are invited to trust that nothing is wasted in God’s hands. His plan is bigger than our logic, and His mercy can transform even the most puzzling moments into part of a greater purpose. Let’s reflect: Can I trust that God is at work even in the confusing or imperfect parts of my life, using them for a greater purpose beyond what I can now understand?
Don Giorgio
Jul 4, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
Friday of week 13 in Ordinary Time
Saint Elizabeth of Portugal
First reading: Genesis 23:1-4,19,24:1-8,62-67
The life of faith, as exemplified by Abraham, is not a life without uncertainty, but one marked by deep trust in the unseen hand of God. In today’s reading, Abraham, nearing the end of his life, entrusts the future of his family to God’s providence, confidently telling his servant, “He will now send his angel ahead of you.” These words are a powerful reminder that when we walk in faith, we are never alone; God goes before us, preparing the way, even when we cannot see the path clearly. This quiet assurance is not based on signs or guarantees, but on a relationship rooted in trust, a trust that believes God’s presence precedes our every step. Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, whose feast we celebrate today, also lived this faith through a life of peace-making, humility, and trust in divine guidance amidst political and personal storms. Her witness, like Abraham’s, encourages us to let go of anxiety and entrust the unknown to the God who already stands ahead of us. When we walk with this faith, the answer to all our questions becomes clear, not in knowing every detail, but in knowing Who goes before us. Let’s reflect: Do I truly trust that God is going ahead of me, even when the path is uncertain and the answers are not yet clear?
Don Giorgio
