Jan 14, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Monday of week 2 in Ordinary Time
Gospel – Mark 2:18-22
“‘Why is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not?’”. We are surrounded by comparisons in our life. The Pharisees are comparing the disciples of John and the disciples of Jesus. But the world of Jesus is without comparison. Because there is nothing to compare with the presence of Jesus. His presence is unique. His presence cannot be compared to anything. If we are trying to compare the presence of Jesus with anything, it will be like putting the new wine into old wineskins. The wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost and the skins too. In order to welcome the presence of Jesus in our life, we need to have new paradigms and approaches. Because the presence of Jesus is unparalleled and so unique. Our old concepts and ideas need to to be substituted with the new ones. The new one which thinks according to the Gospel. Let’s reflect: The presence of Jesus requires new paradigm to acknowledge Him.
Jan 13, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Saint Hilary, Bishop, Doctor
Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Gospel – Mark 2:13-17
Our attention to the first part of this gospel we see how God interact with us. “Jesus went out to the shore of the lake; and all the people came to him, and he taught them”. Jesus went out to the shore of the lake. Jesus goes out to the lake. Then all the people came to him. Then he taught them. Then the second part: Jesus seeing Levi sitting by the customs house. Jesus went to him and talked to him. “he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he got up and followed him”. Jesus said that and Levi got up and followed him. We see Jesus going out to the lake and Jesus going up to Levi. Jesus always comes to us and guides us. The people listened. Levi followed Him. We are also called to listen to Jesus and to follow Him. Let’s reflect: Jesus always takes the initiative to come to me.
Jan 13, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Gospel – John 1:35-42“As John stood with two of his disciples, Jesus passed, and John stared hard at him and said, ‘Look, there is the lamb of God.’ Hearing this, the two disciples followed Jesus”. In these verses we can see the real mission of John the Baptist. He was called to be the forerunner of the Messiah. And John is doing exactly that. He is indicating his disciples who is Messiah, who is the Lamb of God. And the disciples, as soon as they heard it, they immediately followed Jesus. They left their teacher. John the Baptist was ready to be an instrument of the plan of God. He was ready to cease to exist once his role is done. And the disciples were ready to follow Jesus immediately. This is discipleship. Being an instrument of the plan of God and not to search for its glory but to withdraw when the mission is done. The other characteristic which is evident in today’s gospel is the readiness to follow Jesus. Immediately when you know that who is Jesus, leave everything behind and follow him. Whatever project on which we are working, whatever ideas we have, the moment we recognize who is Jesus, we must renounce everything behind and follow Him. Let’s reflect: To follow Jesus, I must recognize Him by listening to the Word of the Church and then I must leave everything behind to follow Him.
Jan 11, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Friday of week 1 in Ordinary Time
Gospel – Mark 2:1-12
“Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven”. There are so many details in this gospel passage to meditate. But on this verse, we concentrate. The first thought goes to the Word of God which says, “Seeing their faith”. Jesus is seeing not only the paralytic man, but also, He is also seeing the faith of the persons who are lowering the paralytic man. Others are not seeing them, but Jesus is seeing. Jesus is seeing their faith though others are not seeing them. So, when we do something for others because of our faith in Jesus, He sees it. Then the second thought is about how Jesus is addressing the paralytic man, “My child”. Jesus is addressing his with the love of the Father. Jesus is considering him as His child. Again, then whom was they carrying? They were carrying to Jesus, a person whom Jesus considers as son. In faith we see all things in a different way. In faith, we understand Jesus. Nothing can stop us. We move towards Jesus because we are carrying someone important for Jesus, we are doing something important for Jesus. Let’s reflect: Our faith must motivate us to do all things as an act focused on Jesus.
Jan 11, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Friday of week 1 in Ordinary Time
Gospel – Mark 2:1-12
“Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven”. There are so many details in this gospel passage to meditate. But on this verse, we concentrate. The first thought goes to the Word of God which says, “Seeing their faith”. Jesus is seeing not only the paralytic man, but also, He is also seeing the faith of the persons who are lowering the paralytic man. Others are not seeing them, but Jesus is seeing. Jesus is seeing their faith though others are not seeing them. So, when we do something for others because of our faith in Jesus, He sees it. Then the second thought is about how Jesus is addressing the paralytic man, “My child”. Jesus is addressing his with the love of the Father. Jesus is considering him as His child. Again, then whom was they carrying? They were carrying to Jesus, a person whom Jesus considers as son. In faith we see all things in a different way. In faith, we understand Jesus. Nothing can stop us. We move towards Jesus because we are carrying someone important for Jesus, we are doing something important for Jesus. Let’s reflect: Our faith must motivate us to do all things as an act focused on Jesus.
Jan 11, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Thursday of week 1 in Ordinary Time
Gospel – Mark 1:40-45
“Even so, people from all around would come to him”. This is because He is Jesus, the second person of Trinity. This is because He is God incarnated. God who touches our infirmities. Because this verse, there is this episode of a leper who kneeled before Jesus and pleaded. He knelt and confessed his faith in Jesus. ‘If you want to you can cure me.’ The leper has full faith in the power of Jesus to cure him. This is his faith. His faith has another character which is very important. He is ready to admit the plan of God for him. He is not doing an act of faith obliging God to do a miracle. He is ready to accept the plan of God which may be not to heal him too. This character of his faith is very important. While imploring for his important intention, he is leaving space for a better plan of God for him. Let’s reflect: God can have better plans for us than what we have for ourselves and acknowledging that is the real faith.
