Apr 9, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
Wednesday of the 5th week of Lent
First reading Daniel 3:14-20,24-25,28
On this Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Lent, we encounter the powerful witness of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego—young men who faced the blazing furnace with unwavering trust in God. Their courage did not falter, even when the fire was made seven times hotter. Instead, their faith deepened. In the midst of the flames, they were not alone—the angel of the Lord was with them, a sign of divine protection. So too in our Lenten journey, as we confront the fires of temptation, discouragement, or fear, we are invited to wrap ourselves in the grace of God. Grace does not always remove the fire, but it shields us within it. Lent is not merely a time of endurance but of transformation—where trust grows stronger, and God’s presence becomes more radiant in the midst of trial. Trust makes the grace wrap up you as a shield. Grace surrounds us like a divine shield, enabling us to walk through the flames of sin and struggle without being consumed. Let’s reflect: Lent is wrapping ourselves with the grace of God.
Don Giorgio
Apr 8, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
Tuesday of the 5th week of Lent
First reading Numbers 21:4-9
In the wilderness, as the people of Israel grew weary and rebellious, they were met with the consequences of their sin—venomous serpents whose bites brought suffering and death. Yet even in their affliction, God provided a path to healing: a bronze serpent lifted high by Moses. Those who looked upon it with faith were saved. This striking image prefigures the Cross of Christ, where Jesus, though sinless, was “lifted up” to take on the poison of our sins. During Lent, we are invited to recognize that we too are wounded—bitten by pride, selfishness, fear, and all that separates us from God and from one another. Our healing does not come from hiding our wounds or striving to fix ourselves alone, but from lifting our eyes to the Crucified Lord. To look upon the Cross is to repent, to believe in the depth of God’s mercy, and to entrust ourselves to His love. It is an act of surrender that opens us to the grace that does not merely remove the sting of sin, but transforms it, giving birth to new life. In the Cross, suffering and love meet, and in that meeting, we find the path home. Let’s reflect: Lent is looking at the Cross for redemption.
Don Giorgio
Apr 7, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
Monday of the 5th week of Lent
First reading Daniel 13:1-9,15-17,19-30,33-62
Saint John Baptist de la Salle
The story of Susanna, proclaimed on this Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent, offers a deeply moving reflection on innocence, courage, and unwavering trust in God. Susanna, though falsely accused by corrupt men and threatened with death, chooses to remain faithful to the Lord rather than submit to sin or yield to human pressure. Her choice is not only an act of moral integrity but also a profound expression of faith. She believed that even in the face of injustice and public shame, God will not abandon those who are faithful to Him. In a world where external pressures, fear of judgment, and the temptation to compromise are often overwhelming, Susanna’s example challenges us to ask where we place our trust. Lent is a season that draws us into this very question: Do we rely on God’s intervention or are we swayed by human approval? Do we seek to preserve our image, or do we strive to live with integrity before the Lord who sees all? Susanna’s vindication through the wisdom and courage of the young Daniel reveals that God intervenes, sometimes in hidden or unexpected ways, to help those who trust in Him. Let’s reflect: Lent is to get rid of fear or compromise and to trust in the Lord.
Don Giorgio
Apr 6, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
5th Sunday of Lent
Readings: Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 125 (126); Philippians 3:8-14
St. Paul is ready to give up everything to know Jesus Christ: “For him I have accepted the loss of everything, and I look on everything as so much rubbish if only I can have Christ and be given a place in him… All I want is to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and to share his sufferings by reproducing the pattern of his death.” This Lenten confession strikes at the heart of the Christian journey. It is not merely about giving things up, but about gaining the One who gives life. Paul’s words invite us to re-evaluate our attachments, our ambitions, even our sense of self, in light of the surpassing worth of Christ. To know Him—crucified and risen—is to discover a love that transforms, a purpose that endures, and a hope that never fades. It’s a profound encounter with the person of Christ. Encounter with one who delivers us from the bondages. He is the one who is making a road in the wilderness, so that I can walk in the midst of my troubles. He is the one who is putting water in the wilderness so that I can drink when I am tried in my journey. Let’s reflect: Lent is to know Christ and what He had done in my life.
Don Giorgio
Apr 5, 2025 | DAILY BREAD
Saturday of the 4th week of Lent
First reading Jeremiah 11:18-20
On this Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent, the words of the Prophet Jeremiah stir within us a deeper awareness of the spiritual battle we face. Evil does not always come in obvious forms—it often lurks in the shadows, seeking to destroy what is good, holy, and true within us. Yet, like Jeremiah, we are not left defenseless. The Lord, through His word, opens our eyes to the hidden plots of these destructive forces. Lent is the season when we renew our commitment to the cause of the Lord, allowing His truth to expose the lies we have believed, the habits we must surrender, and the distractions that pull us away from Him. In this sacred time, we are called not only to recognize the presence of evil but also to stand firm in the light of God’s will, trusting that He who sees all will guard our hearts and vindicate our faithfulness. Let’s reflect: Lent is confirming ourselves to the cause of Lord as He opened my eyes to evil plots in my life.
Don Giorgio
