Oct 15, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Wednesday of week 28 in Ordinary Time
Saint Hedwig, Religious
Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque, Virgin
Gospel Luke 11:42-46
“You who pay your tithe of mint and rue and all sorts of garden herbs and overlook justice and the love of God!” This is the so-called Pharisaic attitude. That gives more importance to man-made rules and customs because others are looking regarding that. Then it ignores important principles like justice and how God loves each one of us. The Pharisees’ behavior reflects a concern with outward appearances and adherence to man-made rules, aiming to look righteous in the eyes of others. However, they miss the heart of true faith: a commitment to justice, compassion, and love. Jesus’ criticism highlights the tension between external religiosity and internal righteousness. It serves as a reminder that spiritual life is not about checking off ritualistic boxes but embodying the core principles of justice, mercy, and love for others, which reflect God's love for all. This message encourages us to look beyond the surface of religious or moral obligations and to align our actions with deeper values that honor both God and the dignity of others. Let’s reflect: How can I ensure that my outward actions align with the deeper values of justice and love, rather than merely fulfilling external expectations?
Don Giorgio
Oct 14, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Saint Teresa of Ávila, Virgin, Doctor
Tuesday of week 28 in Ordinary Time
Gospel John 15:1-8
“Make your home in me, as I make mine in you”. Jesus makes His home in us, and we must make home in Him. This is relationship is a cohabitation, it’s living together. It’s not just living together in a home. He is inviting us into a deep, ongoing relationship of mutual indwelling. This relationship is more than just an occasional or surface-level connection; it is about living in full communion with Christ, allowing His presence to shape and transform us. The phrase “make your home in me” suggests a continual, active effort to live in harmony with Christ's teachings, to seek His presence daily, and to align our lives with His will. On the other hand, “as I make mine in you” reveals that Jesus is not distant or detached from us; He is present within us, guiding, empowering, and filling us with His love. This cohabitation, or mutual indwelling, is not just about being close to Jesus in a metaphorical sense but implies a shared life. Let’s reflect: Does my relationship to Jesus is a transformative relationship where my entire being is shaped by my connection to Christ?
Don Giorgio
Oct 13, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Monday of week 28 in Ordinary Time
Saint Callistus, Pope, Martyr
Gospel - Luke 11:29-32
“This is a wicked generation; it is asking for a sign. The only sign it will be given is the sign of Jonah”. Jesus is speaking with strong words because the people in front of Him are not seeing the grace available for them. So, He wanted to call the attention of His listeners. The Queen of the South hearing about the wisdom of Solomon came a long way to meet Solomon. The People of Nineveh listened to Jonah who is an outsider. And here, Jesus born in the midst of them, God became Man, the people are not recognizing them but looking for sign. We also often do that. We don’t recognize the blessing of being in front of the Blessed Sacrament, but we look for miracles. The very fact that I am in front of the Blessed Sacrament is the greatest miracle. We don’t need another sign. God loves us. Then the Blessed Sacrament we receive in the Holy Communion, again another miracle. We must just recognize the greatness of what we are permitted as human being before Jesus Christ. Let’s reflect: Do I recognize the magnificence of Incarnation, God being with us or I look for miracles?
Don Giorgio
Oct 13, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
28th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Gospel Mark 10:17-30
“How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!” It’s hard for those who have riches because the Kingdom of God has a different criterion to be in. Worldly riches are considered to be a blessing but that is not enough to enter into the Kingdom of God. It could be a blessing. But that is not enough. The Kingdom of God is for the followers of Jesus Christ. It can be inherited by following the words of Jesus Christ. “Go and sell everything you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me”. This is what He said to the man who wanted to inherit the Kingdom of God. Kingdom of God is a different reality. It’s the result of the intervention of God in the human history. It’s about God made man so that man can be with God. Kingdom of God is about giving up whatever to be with Jesus Christ. It’s about making Jesus Christ the center of your world, your life and everything you have. Let’s reflect: What is the place of Jesus Christ in my life?
Don Giorgio
Oct 11, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Saturday of week 27 in Ordinary Time
Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Gospel Luke 11:27-28
‘Still happier those who hear the word of God and keep it!’ Because the Word of God is the source of happiness. So those who hear the Word of God and keep it, are happier. The woman in the crowd praised Mother Mary. How happy she is! Yes, she is praiseworthy because in her, Word became flesh. Word incarnated! This is what Jesus is also stating. When you hear the Word of God and practice it, the Word of God becomes incarnated in your life. What we must do is to hear the Word of God. Many times, we don’t want to hear the Word of God. We want to hear other words, other voices. But we are called to hear the Word of God. When we hear the Word of God, we will be put before a choice. A choice to follow the Word of God or to ignore. Mother Mary followed the Word of God with her “Yes”. We also must also do the same. Hear the Word of God and say “Yes”, so that the Word of God can take flesh in our life, so that the Word of God stays with us. Let’s reflect: How much effort I take to keep in my life the Word of God which I hear?
Don Giorgio
Oct 11, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Friday of week 27 in Ordinary Time
Saint John XXIII, Pope
Gospel – Luke 11:15-26
In this passage of Gospel Jesus is teaching about the necessity of understanding the action of God in our life. Our life must be with God. “He who is not with me is against me; and he who does not gather with me scatters”. Whether we agree or not, God is with us in every moment of our life. If we accept this reality with gratitude, our life gets a very important sense. If we are not accepting this blessing, our life goes to a different direction where we must find meaning for everything that happens in our life. When we understand that God is with us in every step of our life, the life naturally acquires a meaning and significance. The people who did not accept the miracles of Jesus as miracles were looking for strange explanations about what was happening. Unfortunately, they failed to be the part of the plan of God. But when we accept everything that happens in our life as plan of God, we are living our life with Jesus and there is no need to search for the meaning of events in our life. We gather our life with Jesus. The kingdom of God is reigning us. Let’s reflect: Do I live my life with Jesus without search for the meaning of what is happening in my life?
Don Giorgio
