| Bread From Heaven Meditations on the Sunday Gospel for the Year of the Eucharist |
| Most Holy Trinity Sunday May 29th, 2005 |
| The Word of the Lord |
| Jesus said to the Jewish crowds: "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." The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever." - John 6:51-58 |
| THE BACKGROUND |
| Many of the disciples in this passage have followed Jesus because he had just worked a miracle of the multiplication of loaves. They are seeking Him in order to see his miracles and be filled with earthly bread. Jesus now is revealing to them that they should not seek earthly bread but the Heavenly Bread, Him. Jesus should be sought not for what He can do, but for who He is, the Son of the Living God. He is revealing that He is giving the greatest gift he can give, Himself. |
| Jesus the Apostles and You |
Imagine being one of the disciples. How do you react when you hear those strange words
of today’s Gospel: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man
and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.” At this point, you would have no
concept of the Eucharist, simply Jesus saying that He is the bread come down from
Heaven. Would you draw the line at this point? You have seen him work miracles and
heard his words of truth which rang in your heart, but can you continue to follow Him after
such a seemingly bizarre statement. Would you be counted among those many disciples
who drew back and no longer followed Him after this episode (John Ch.6 v.66)? or would
you like Peter in the face of such a mysterious call exclaim in exasperation, “Lord to whom
shall we go, you have the words of eternal life”(John Ch. 6 v. 68).
of today’s Gospel: “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man
and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.” At this point, you would have no
concept of the Eucharist, simply Jesus saying that He is the bread come down from
Heaven. Would you draw the line at this point? You have seen him work miracles and
heard his words of truth which rang in your heart, but can you continue to follow Him after
such a seemingly bizarre statement. Would you be counted among those many disciples
who drew back and no longer followed Him after this episode (John Ch.6 v.66)? or would
you like Peter in the face of such a mysterious call exclaim in exasperation, “Lord to whom
shall we go, you have the words of eternal life”(John Ch. 6 v. 68).
| TALKING WITH GOD - Lord, what a mystery you are before me! As I gaze upon your Eucharistic Presence my senses tell me that I am seeing bread. Yet, my Faith, the Church, your very Word tells me that I am seeing you, the Living God. Many have left you over this Lord, but you did not stop them then and will you not stop them now. Lord I thank you for such a wondrous gift. I thank you that you so much want to be one with me, body and spirit, that you have left behind this sacrament of your Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. I ask pardon for those who could not see beyond the mystery and into the Love that drove you to leave such a wonderful sacrament. |
| Conversation Starters with God: Lord, in giving me this gift of the Eucharist you have held back nothing, You have given yourself completely and totally to me. Nothing remains to be given. Allow me to make a like return, a gift of myself. Reveal to me the blocks I place to the total gift of myself [listen for ten minutes] Jesus, receiving you in Holy Communion should be the most intimate moment of our relationship. Show me how I can better prepare for that moment and follow it up afterward. You are the most important person in my life, help me to center my life on the encounter I have with you at the Mass [ask and listen for ten minutes] [Slowly read through these words from the Gospel, pausing to look up at the Living Bread as you do:] "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." |
| QUOTES ON THE EUCHARIST |
"And this food is called among us Eucharistia (The Eucharist) , of
which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that
the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed
with the washing that is for the remission of sins, unto
regeneration, and who is so living as Christ enjoined. For not as
common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in
like manner as Jesus Christ our Saviour, having been made flesh
by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation,
so likewise we have been taught that the food which is blessed
by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by
transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus
who was made flesh. For the Apostles, in the memoirs composed
by them, which are called Gospels have delivered unto us which
was enjoined upon them.." (First Apology, Ch LXVI) - Saint
Justin Martyr 110-165 A.D.
which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that
the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed
with the washing that is for the remission of sins, unto
regeneration, and who is so living as Christ enjoined. For not as
common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in
like manner as Jesus Christ our Saviour, having been made flesh
by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation,
so likewise we have been taught that the food which is blessed
by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by
transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus
who was made flesh. For the Apostles, in the memoirs composed
by them, which are called Gospels have delivered unto us which
was enjoined upon them.." (First Apology, Ch LXVI) - Saint
Justin Martyr 110-165 A.D.
LET US PRAY - THE ANIMA CHRISTI
Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from Christ's side, wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within Thy wounds hide me
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee
From the malicious enemy defend me
In the hour of my death call me
And bid me come unto Thee
That I may praise Thee with Thy saints
and with Thy angels
Forever and ever
Amen
Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from Christ's side, wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within Thy wounds hide me
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee
From the malicious enemy defend me
In the hour of my death call me
And bid me come unto Thee
That I may praise Thee with Thy saints
and with Thy angels
Forever and ever
Amen
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