Apr 13, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Saturday of the 2nd week of Eastertide
Saint Martin I, Pope, Martyr
Gospel – John 6:16-21
The appearance of Jesus walking on the lake is rich with lot of points to meditate in this Eastertide. The disciples were going alone. They were rowing. But the wind was strong, and the sea was getting rough. Then Jesus appeared to them. The direction from which Jesus appears is very significative. Even though they left Jesus behind and going to a new destination, Jesus is coming from the direction to which they are heading. Along with this, the disciples saw Him walking over a sea which was rough. Then Jesus speaks, “It is I. Do not be afraid”. And as soon as Jesus entered the boat, they reached the destination. This is the love of the Risen Lord. You are rowing alone on a rough sea trying to make to your destination. But Jesus is coming towards you to say to you, “It is I, Do not be afraid”. The moment you recognize Him, you reached your destination. Let’s reflect: Easter is listening to Jesus speaking to us who are rowing on a rough sea, “It is I. Do not be afraid”.
Apr 11, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Friday of the 2nd week of Eastertide
St Zeno of Verona
Gospel – John 6:1-15
Today’s reading is about the feeding of the five thousand. Whenever we read this in the Easter time, this miracle has a different flavor. Because we can read this episode with the joy of resurrection. Jesus seeing the crowds approaching him, the first thing is saying to the disciples, “Where can we buy some bread for these people to eat?” The disciples saw the impossibilities. Jesus asked the disciples to make the people sit down. There was plenty of grass there. He multiplied the bread. He made everyone satisfied. He wanted that nothing gets wasted. The leftovers were collected. People seeing everything wanted to make him the king. We read, “Jesus, who could see they were about to come and take him by force and make him king, escaped back to the hills by himself.” In Easter, we find the way Jesus conqueror the world. It’s by the death and resurrection and not by the acclamation of the people. The plan of God is different from the plan of man. At the same time, God sees the necessities of man, for example in this case, the need for bread. Let’s reflect: Easter is recognizing the way of God in our salvation.
Apr 10, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Saint Stanislaus, Bishop, Martyr
Thursday of the 2nd week of Eastertide
Gospel – John 3:31-36
“though all who do accept his testimony are attesting the truthfulness of God, since he whom God has sent speaks God’s own words”. God sent the Word of God. In Jesus Christ we can find the truthfulness of God. The truthfulness of God is that Father loves the Son and has entrusted everything to him. So, in the Son we can find the eternal life. But if we refuse to believe in the Son, we will not have the possibility of having His life. The Truthfulness of God which is manifested in Jesus Christ becomes a reality in us with our faith in Jesus Christ. In order to be born from heaven we have to accept the one who descended from heaven. So, we participate in the life of Jesus Christ through our faith. And when we participate truly we will understand the love of God the Father for us. Let’s reflect: Easter is understanding the truthfulness of God manifested in the Son.
Apr 9, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Wednesday of the 2nd week of Eastertide
Gospel – John 3:16-21
“but the man who lives by the truth comes out into the light, so that it may be plainly seen that what he does is done in God”. Light came to the world with the resurrection of Jesus Christ. There was darkness and doubts before the resurrections of Jesus Christ. Darkness of sin and punishment. Doubts of our relationship with God. But all these are over with the Risen Christ. “For God sent his Son into the world not to condemn the world, but so that through him the world might be saved”. God wanted to save us, and He saved us through His only Son. Because “God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost but may have eternal life”. So, in Risen Christ we see the love of God manifested and the love of God giving us eternal life. He is not for condemnation but for salvation. Our life therefore must not be in darkness but in the light of Jesus Christ. Our life and actions must be in the light of His love for us. Let’s reflect: Easter is starting to live our life in the light of God’s love for us.
Apr 8, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
Tuesday of the 2nd week of Eastertide
Gospel – John 3:7-15
“If you do not believe me when I speak about things in this world, how are you going to believe me when I speak to you about heavenly things?” In this very interesting conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus we can find the tension between the revelation and the faith. Faith is not something static. Faith is dynamic especially when it regards to the revelation. Faith must adapt itself to the revelation. And not that faith block itself before revelation. Nicodemus is a very sincere man. He is searching for truth. He is even expressing his ignorance without fear. And through his sincere questions, we come to know very profound answers to some existential questions of our life. What we need a new life, and this new life is given by the Son of Man who is in heaven. We have His life. We live with His life. And this Son of Man is like serpent raised in the desert. Moses raised it according to the will of God and everyone looked at was save. In the New Testament, God the Father raised Jesus Christ and in Him we are all saved. His life is shared among us. We receive His life and our lives are new. Let’s reflect: Easter is understanding that we live with the life of Jesus Christ given to us in Baptism.
Apr 7, 2024 | DAILY BREAD
The Annunciation of the Lord – Solemnity
Gospel – Luke 1:26-3
“But how can this come about, since I am a virgin?” The Feast of the Annunciation of the Lord is in a different date this year. Since the original date is on the Holy Week, it’s moved to the first day after the Easter Week because the Feast must be celebrated in the right spirit. The Feast of Annunciation is the day when the heaven and earth united in the consent of the Virgin in Nazareth. Mary united heaven and earth. In her, the divinity and humanity become one. The distinction is eliminated. Mary heard the words of Angel Gabriel. When the angel Gabriel gave the news, the Virgen in Nazareth did not immediately say “yes”. Mary wanted to know her role in this plan of God. Then angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you’ the angel answered ‘and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God”. Mary wanted to be part of the plan of God. She understood the plan of God. She said, “let what you have said be done to me”. Because Mary with her freedom and with her will, accepted to be part of the Will of God. Let’s reflect: Annunciation invites us to be part of God’s plan for humanity.
