Saturday 6 June

Saturday 6 June

Saturday of week 9 in Ordinary Time
First Saturday - let us entrust ourselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Saint Norbert, Bishop
Gospel: Mark 12:38-44In today’s Gospel, Jesus contrasts the attitude of the scribes, who seek honor and recognition, with the poor widow who quietly offers two small coins, “all she had to live on.” Here Jesus reveals the profound logic of the Gospel, a logic completely different from worldly calculations. The world measures greatness by appearance, power, abundance, and visibility, but the Gospel measures by love, sincerity, sacrifice, and total self-giving. The widow appears insignificant in the eyes of society, yet in the eyes of Christ she gives more than all the others because she gives herself completely. Everything in the Gospel follows this divine logic: the last become first, losing becomes finding, humility becomes greatness, and self-giving becomes true richness. On this First Saturday, the Church invites us to entrust ourselves to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, because Mary lived perfectly according to this logic of the Gospel. Her greatness came not from earthly status, but from total openness and surrender to God. On the memorial of Saint Norbert, who embraced conversion and evangelical simplicity, we are reminded that holiness begins when we stop measuring life according to worldly standards and begin to see everything through the eyes of Christ. The logic of the Gospel transforms not only our actions, but our entire way of understanding life, value, and love. Let’s reflect: Am I measuring my life according to the logic of the world or according to the logic of the Gospel, where true greatness is found in humility, self-giving, and total trust in God?

Don Giorgio

Thursday 4 June

Thursday 4 June

The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ – Solemnity (In some places, this solemnity is celebrated on the coming Sunday) Readings: Deuteronomy 8:2-3,​14-16; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; John 6:51-58. On the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, the Church contemplates the profound mystery that the Son of God became man in order to give His very life as food for humanity. In Deuteronomy (8:2–3, 14–16), Israel is reminded that God fed His people in the desert so that they would not become proud of heart and forget their dependence upon Him. The Eucharist continues this mystery in its fullness: humanity does not live by its own strength, but by receiving life from God Himself. In the First Letter to the Corinthians (10:16–17), Saint Paul teaches that the cup and the bread are a real communion in the Body and Blood of Christ. The Eucharist is not merely a symbol or memory; it is communion with the incarnate Son of God who united Himself to humanity. In the Gospel (John 6:51–58), Jesus declares with radical clarity: “My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink.” The flesh of Christ gives life because it is the flesh of the eternal Word made man. In His Body we receive not simply nourishment, but participation in divine life itself. The Eucharist is therefore deeply Christological: the One who became flesh for our salvation continues to give that same glorified humanity as the source of eternal life. Through His Body and Blood, Christ remains present, enters into communion with humanity, and transforms believers from within. The Eucharist reveals that true life is not found in ourselves, but in remaining united to the living Christ who gives Himself completely for the life of the world. Let’s reflect: Am I truly receiving the Body and Blood of Christ as the real source of my life, allowing communion with His incarnate and risen humanity to transform my heart, free me from pride, and unite me more deeply with Him?

Don Giorgio

Wednesday 3 June

Wednesday 3 June

Saints Charles Lwanga and his Companions, Martyrs Wednesday of week 9 in Ordinary Time Gospel: Mark 12:18-27In today’s Gospel, Jesus responds to the Sadducees who deny the resurrection and reduce eternal life to merely earthly categories and calculations. Jesus reminds them that God is “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,” and concludes: “He is God, not of the dead, but of the living.” These words reveal that God is not distant or abstract, but a God of covenant, relationship, and love. His bond with His people is living and eternal. The relationship God establishes with humanity does not end with death because divine love is stronger than death itself. God remembers, sustains, and remains faithful to those whom He loves. Faith is therefore not simply adherence to religious ideas, but entering into a living communion with God who desires relationship with His people. On the memorial of Saint Charles Lwanga and his companions, we see witnesses who valued their relationship with God above earthly fear, suffering, and even death. Their martyrdom reveals that when love for God becomes real and personal, nothing can ultimately destroy that communion. The Gospel invites us to rediscover faith not merely as obligation or tradition, but as a covenant of living love with the God who calls each person by name and desires eternal communion with them. Let’s reflect: Am I truly living my faith as a personal covenant of love and relationship with the living God, trusting that His communion with me is stronger than death itself?

Don Giorgio

Tuesday 2 June

Tuesday 2 June

Tuesday of week 9 in Ordinary Time Saints Marcellinus and Peter, Martyrs Gospel: Mark 12:13-17 In today’s Gospel (Mark 12:13–17), Jesus gives one of the most profound teachings about the relationship between earthly responsibilities and our belonging to God: “Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar, and to God what belongs to God.” Jesus does not reject civic responsibility, social order, or human authority, but He places everything in its proper perspective. The coin bears the image of Caesar, and therefore belongs to Caesar. But the human person bears the image of God, and therefore belongs ultimately to God. This is why it is essential to distinguish what belongs to earthly structures and what belongs to the Lord. Money, power, politics, and social obligations have their place, but they must never occupy the place that belongs only to God. The danger begins when earthly realities claim our heart, conscience, identity, or worship. Jesus reminds us that while we live in the world, our deepest loyalty remains with God, because our life, dignity, soul, and destiny come from Him. Christian wisdom is therefore not rejecting the world, but discerning rightly the order of things. Only when God remains at the center can everything else find its proper meaning and limit. Let’s reflect: Am I discerning clearly what belongs to the world and what belongs to God, ensuring that no earthly power, possession, or ambition takes the place that belongs only to Him in my heart?

Don Giorgio

Monday 1 June

Monday 1 June

Saint Justin, Martyr Monday of week 9 in Ordinary Time Gospel: Mark 12:1-12In today’s Gospel (Mark 12:1–12), Jesus tells the parable of the tenants who reject and kill the servants and finally the beloved son sent by the owner of the vineyard. The rejection of the son does not change who he truly is. He remains the beloved son regardless of whether he is accepted or rejected by others. This reveals a profound spiritual truth: our identity is not determined by human approval, recognition, or acceptance, but by who we truly are before God. The world often tempts us to measure our worth through success, popularity, influence, or validation from others, yet these things are fragile and changing. Jesus Himself was rejected, misunderstood, and condemned, but His identity as the Son of the Father remained untouched. On the memorial of Saint Justin, who remained faithful to Christ even unto martyrdom, we are reminded that truth and identity are not built upon public acceptance. Saint Justin did not abandon Christ to gain approval from society because he knew who he belonged to. The Gospel invites us to live with inner freedom, rooted not in the opinions of others but in the truth of our relationship with God. Only when we know who we are in Him can we remain faithful even when misunderstood, rejected, or alone. Let’s reflect: Am I allowing my identity and worth to depend on the acceptance of others, or am I rooted in the truth of who I am before God, remaining faithful even when misunderstood or rejected?

Don Giorgio

Sunday 31 May

Sunday 31 May

The Most Holy Trinity – Solemnity Exodus 34:4-6,​8-9; 2 Corinthians 13:11-13; John 3:16-18 On the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, the Church contemplates not an abstract doctrine, but the very inner life of God revealed through the mystery of redemption. In the Book of Exodus (34:4–6, 8–9), God reveals Himself to Moses as “a God of tenderness and compassion,” showing that the heart of God is mercy, patience, and faithful love. In the Second Letter to the Corinthians (13:11–13), Saint Paul blesses the community with the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, revealing that the Trinity is a communion of divine love poured out toward humanity. In the Gospel (John 3:16–18), we hear the deepest expression of this mystery: “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son.” The Trinity therefore becomes visible in the act of redemption. The Father loves, the Son is given for the salvation of the world, and the Holy Spirit brings believers into communion with this divine life. The inner life of God is not closed within itself; it opens outward in creation, mercy, salvation, and communion. The Cross, the Resurrection, and the gift of the Holy Spirit reveal that God’s very being is eternal self-giving love. To believe in the Trinity is therefore not only to profess a doctrine, but to enter into a living relationship with the Father, through the Son, in the Holy Spirit, allowing divine love to transform our own lives into communion, mercy, and self-giving love toward others. Let’s reflect: Am I truly allowing the love of the Father, the grace of the Son, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit to draw me into the living communion of God and transform my life into self-giving love toward others?

Don Giorgio