19 August 2012: 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Liturgical color: Green)
John 6:51-58
Jesus our Living Bread!
In the aftermath of the recent massive flooding in Metro Manila and neighboring places the demand for food was high in order to feed the many hungry people devastated by floods. In the bible "Bread" is the symbolic representation of food.
So today's gospel from John seems timely because Jesus speaks of himself as "Living Bread". This sounds familiar by now because for several Sundays the gospel readings from the evangelist John have passages repeating some themes. But actually each Sunday's gospel reading has its own emphasis.
For this Sunday the focus is on Jesus "Living Bread" as real flesh and blood for us to eat.
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this
bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the
life of the world." (Jn. 6:51)
Jesus meant the above words literally and not just a figure of speech. We remember that at the Last Supper the night before he died, this was what he told his disciples, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
Christians, particularly Catholics, have been celebrating the breaking of bread ever since. In Mass we come together to share a meal and be fed with the bread and wine that is Jesus himself.
Bread is so basic to our life. That is why God in his wisdom wants to nourish us with divine life in the form of bread, the Eucharist. Every time we partake of the Eucharist at Mass, Jesus literally feeds us with his body and blood. When we receive Jesus we enter into communion with him and with one another. Unlike other food, which become part of us, Jesus in the sacred bread and wine of the Eucharist makes us more like him. Thus, we, too, become the bread for the world by being Christ-like to others. Because the gospel becomes only good news when we become persons of God and for others.
The Eucharist is a gift of Jesus' love through which we remember his death and share in his resurrection. In our Catholic faith we believe that when we receive Jesus in the Eucharist as our Living Bread he sustains and prepares us for that day when we will come to the heavenly banquet. It is our pledge of future glory.
Let us, therefore, pray: Give us this day our daily bread.
A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.
Deo Optimo Maximo
John 6:51-58
Jesus our Living Bread!
In the aftermath of the recent massive flooding in Metro Manila and neighboring places the demand for food was high in order to feed the many hungry people devastated by floods. In the bible "Bread" is the symbolic representation of food.
So today's gospel from John seems timely because Jesus speaks of himself as "Living Bread". This sounds familiar by now because for several Sundays the gospel readings from the evangelist John have passages repeating some themes. But actually each Sunday's gospel reading has its own emphasis.
For this Sunday the focus is on Jesus "Living Bread" as real flesh and blood for us to eat.
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this
bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the
life of the world." (Jn. 6:51)
Jesus meant the above words literally and not just a figure of speech. We remember that at the Last Supper the night before he died, this was what he told his disciples, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
Christians, particularly Catholics, have been celebrating the breaking of bread ever since. In Mass we come together to share a meal and be fed with the bread and wine that is Jesus himself.
Bread is so basic to our life. That is why God in his wisdom wants to nourish us with divine life in the form of bread, the Eucharist. Every time we partake of the Eucharist at Mass, Jesus literally feeds us with his body and blood. When we receive Jesus we enter into communion with him and with one another. Unlike other food, which become part of us, Jesus in the sacred bread and wine of the Eucharist makes us more like him. Thus, we, too, become the bread for the world by being Christ-like to others. Because the gospel becomes only good news when we become persons of God and for others.
The Eucharist is a gift of Jesus' love through which we remember his death and share in his resurrection. In our Catholic faith we believe that when we receive Jesus in the Eucharist as our Living Bread he sustains and prepares us for that day when we will come to the heavenly banquet. It is our pledge of future glory.
Let us, therefore, pray: Give us this day our daily bread.
A blessed Sunday to us all. And thank you for a moment with God.
Deo Optimo Maximo
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