the bread of life

 

Tuesday, April 28, 2009 St. Louis Mary de Montfort, Priest (Optional Memorial)

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel: Acts 7:51 -- 8:1 Psalm 31:3-4, 6-8, 17, 21 John 6:30-35

 

John 6:35  Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.

 

Often the debate about the bread of the Eucharist is whether it is the actual body of Christ or not.  But Jesus doesn’t say that the bread is his body.  He says that the bread is his body given for us. He says that he is the bread of life.  We don’t consume Jesus when we eat the Communion bread.  We enter into a covenant relationship with him.  We accept his loving mercy and we pledge to follow him even to death.  Like a marriage ceremony is the sealing of a marriage relationship, so too is the Communion meal the sealing of our marriage relationship with Jesus.  The two shall become one flesh.

 

Father, help me by our Holy Spirit to follow you no matter what you call me to.  Help me to see you truly as the bread of life.

Amen