Jun 28, 2026 | DAILY BREAD
- 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: 2 Kings 4:8-11,13-16; Psalm 88(89):2-3,16-19; Romans 6:3-4,8-11; Matthew 10:37-42The readings of this Sunday reveal that the Christian life is a generous response to the generous love of God. In the First Book of Kings (2 Kings 4:8–11, 13–16), the Shunammite woman welcomes the prophet Elisha with open-hearted generosity, expecting nothing in return. Her selfless hospitality becomes the place where God’s blessing enters her life. True generosity is never a loss in God’s eyes; it always bears fruit beyond our expectations. The Psalm responds by proclaiming that true happiness is found in singing forever of the Lord’s love. A heart that has experienced God’s faithful love naturally becomes a heart of praise. Saint Paul, in the Letter to the Romans (6:3–4, 8–11), reminds us that through Baptism we have died and risen with Christ. We no longer belong to the old life centered on ourselves but are called to walk in the new life of grace. This new life finds its fullest expression in the Gospel (Matthew 10:37–42), where Jesus invites His disciples to follow Him without calculating the cost. Love does not keep accounts. Whoever truly loves Christ no longer measures sacrifices, because love transforms sacrifice into a joyful gift of self. The disciple does not ask, “How much must I give?” but “How can I give myself more completely?” Generosity, praise, new life in Baptism, and wholehearted discipleship all flow from the same source: a heart that has encountered the immeasurable love of God. When we know we have received everything from Him, we no longer count the cost of giving ourselves in return. Let’s reflect: Have I encountered God’s love so deeply that I can give myself generously, praise Him joyfully, and follow Christ without calculating the sacrifices He asks of me?
Don Giorgio
Jun 26, 2026 | DAILY BREAD
Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Saturday of week 12 in Ordinary Time
Saint Cyril of Alexandria, Bishop, Doctor
Gospel: Matthew 8:5-17In today’s Gospel, the Roman centurion gives one of the greatest professions of faith found in the Gospels: “Lord, I am not worthy to have you under my roof; just give the word and my servant will be cured.” These are the very words the Church places on our lips before receiving Holy Communion. They unite three essential dimensions of faith. First, they express faith in the Person of Christ: the centurion recognizes Jesus as the Lord before whom he stands in humility. Second, they reveal faith in the Word of Christ: he believes that Jesus does not need to be physically present because His word alone possesses divine authority and accomplishes what it declares. Third, they manifest faith in Christ’s personal power over every human life: no illness, distance, weakness, or suffering is beyond His saving reach. This is why Jesus marvels at such faith. Every time we repeat these words at Mass, we are invited to make them our own—not as a routine formula, but as a sincere act of trust. On this memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary and of Saint Cyril of Alexandria, who defended the truth about the person of Christ, we are reminded that authentic faith always leads us to humble confidence in Jesus. The Lord whom we receive in the Eucharist is the same Lord whose word heals, whose presence saves, and whose power continues to transform every heart that trusts in Him. Let’s reflect: When I say, “Lord, I am not worthy… but only say the word,” do I truly believe in the Person of Christ, trust completely in the power of His Word, and entrust every part of my life to His saving power?
Don Giorgio
Jun 26, 2026 | DAILY BREAD
Friday of week 12 in Ordinary Time
Gospel: Matthew 8:1-4In today’s Gospel, a man suffering from leprosy approaches Jesus with deep humility and confidence: “Lord, if you want to, you can cure me.” Jesus immediately stretches out His hand, touches him, and replies, “Of course I want to! Be cured!” These words reveal the heart of Christ. Jesus does not hesitate before human suffering, nor is He indifferent to our wounds. He desires our healing—body, mind, heart, and soul. The leper’s greatest obstacle was not only his disease but also the isolation and rejection it caused. Yet Jesus breaks every barrier by touching him, restoring not only his health but also his dignity and place within the community. The same Lord continues to approach each of us today. He sees the hidden wounds we carry: our sins, fears, broken relationships, discouragement, and inner loneliness. His desire is not to leave us imprisoned by them, but to heal and restore us. Our part is to approach Him with the same trust as the leper, believing that His will is always directed toward our true good. The Gospel assures us that Christ’s love is always a healing love. He wants us to be cured so that we may live in the freedom and fullness of life that God has prepared for His children. Let’s reflect: Do I truly believe that Jesus desires to heal every wound in my life, and do I approach Him with the humble trust to let Him touch and restore me?
Don Giorgio
Jun 25, 2026 | DAILY BREAD
Thursday of week 12 in Ordinary Time
Gospel: Matthew 7:21-29In today’s Gospel, Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount by teaching that true discipleship is built not merely on words, religious activities, or good intentions, but on a living relationship that leads to doing the will of the Father. He compares the wise person to one who builds a house upon rock. Storms, floods, and winds will come, but the house remains standing because its foundation is secure. The deepest foundation of the Christian life is the personal experience of God’s love. It is this encounter with the Father’s love in Christ that gives meaning to obedience, strength during trials, and perseverance in faith. Without this foundation, faith can become a collection of practices, ideas, or emotions that easily collapse when difficulties arise. But when a person has truly experienced being loved, forgiven, and accepted by God, faith becomes rooted in something unshakable. The storms of life do not disappear, but they no longer have the power to destroy. Jesus teaches with authority because He does not merely give instructions; He invites us into a relationship with the Father that transforms our lives from within. The more our lives are built upon the certainty of God’s love, the stronger and more enduring our faith becomes. Let’s reflect: Is my faith built upon a personal experience of God’s love that leads me to do His will, or is it resting mainly on habits, words, and religious practices that may not withstand the storms of life?
Don Giorgio
Jun 24, 2026 | DAILY BREAD
The Nativity of Saint John the Baptist
Readings: Isaiah 49:1-6; Acts 13:22-26; Luke 1:57-66,80On the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, the Church celebrates not only the birth of a great prophet, but also the mystery of God’s call upon every human life. Through the words of Isaiah, “The Lord called me before I was born,” we are reminded that our lives are not accidents but part of God’s loving plan. Before John could speak, act, or choose, God had already entrusted him with a mission. In the Acts of the Apostles, we hear that God seeks people “after His own heart” who will carry out His purpose. John became such a person because he allowed his life to be shaped entirely by God’s will. This truth is beautifully revealed in the Gospel when his parents insist: “His name is John.” The name was not chosen according to family tradition but according to God’s command. His identity flowed from his mission, and his mission flowed from God’s call. John’s whole life was dedicated to preparing the way for Christ. The same is true for every Christian. Our deepest identity is not found in our achievements, preferences, or plans, but in the vocation, God has entrusted to us. The Lord knows us before we are born, calls us by name, and gives each of us a unique mission in His plan of salvation. The feast of Saint John the Baptist invites us to listen anew to God’s voice and to discover who we truly are by embracing the purpose for which He created us. Let’s reflect: Do I truly believe that God called me before I was born and entrusted me with a unique mission, and am I allowing my identity and daily choices to be shaped by His purpose rather than by my own plans and expectations?
Don Giorgio
Jun 22, 2026 | DAILY BREAD
Tuesday of week 12 in Ordinary Time
Gospel: Matthew 7:6,12-14In today’s Gospel, Jesus invites us to a path of wisdom, authenticity, and love. He teaches us to treat others as we ourselves would wish to be treated and encourages us to enter through the narrow gate that leads to life. This journey begins with knowing ourselves honestly before God. Only when we recognize our own dignity, weaknesses, desires, and need for mercy can we truly understand and welcome others. Self-knowledge protects us from projecting our fears and expectations onto those around us and helps us discern how to share what is holy with wisdom and respect. At the same time, the Gospel calls us to move beyond self-centeredness and open our hearts to others with generosity, empathy, and love. The narrow gate is precisely this path of genuine relationship: leaving behind selfishness, prejudice, and indifference in order to encounter others as brothers and sisters. The Golden Rule is not merely an ethical principle; it is an invitation to see others through the same compassion with which God sees us. True discipleship begins when we allow God’s love to reveal who we are and then let that same love flow outward in openness, respect, and service toward others. Let’s reflect: Do I know myself honestly before God and allow His love to open my heart to others, treating them with the same compassion, respect, and understanding that I desire for myself?
Don Giorgio
