The Bread of Life Discourse

Today's Reflections

 

 

The Bread of Life Discourse

graceandspace.org

Jn 6:41-51

⁴¹The Jews murmured about [Jesus] because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven,” ⁴²and they said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” ⁴³Jesus answered and said to them, “Stop murmuring among yourselves. ⁴⁴No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. ⁴⁵It is written in the prophets:/ ‘They shall all be taught by God.’/ Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. ⁴⁶Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. ⁴⁷Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. ⁴⁸I am the bread of life. ⁴⁹Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; ⁵⁰this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. ⁵¹I 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.”

Reflection:

I am the Living bread that came down from heaven. Jesus presents himself as the bread that comes down from heaven. He invites us to partake of this bread so that we will live forever.

The invitation of Jesus to eat this bread of life is continually offered at the celebration of the Eucharist. During the consecration, by the power of the Spirit, the bread and wine become truly the body and blood of Jesus. In holy Communion, we receive Jesus in the form of bread and wine. It is indeed Jesus whom we receive. We draw spiritual nourishment and strength from the Eucharist. The Eucharist sustains and gives us eternal life.

At the Eucharist, we are united with Jesus. We become like him and for him. Each Eucharist that we celebrate helps us to become like Jesus for others, to act and speak like Jesus to them, and to be a source of strength and nourishment for them.

How frequently do you participate at the eucharistic celebration?

Do you look forward to it or do you see it as just another obligation?