"JESUS THE GIVER OF ETERNAL LIFE"
First Reading: Proverbs 9:1-6
Second Reading: Ephesians 5: 15-20
Gospel Reading: John 6:51-58
* First reading is from the book of Proverbs. This passage personifies Wisdom as a great Lady who has built herself a great mansion. Wisdom invites everyone who is open minded to take part in the banquet given by her. Wisdom wants to teach people to walk in the way of insight.
* Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Ephesians. In this passage Ephesian Christians and all of us are urged by Paul to live according to the Christian wisdom they received. He asks them not to be foolish and live unworthy ways but rather be filled with the Holy Spirit and always live with hearts grateful to the Lord.
"Jesus is the Living Bread"
Today's Gospel reading is from St. John, Chapter 6. In this passage we have the teaching on Eucharist by our Lord Jesus. His teaching on Eucharist was rather extraordinary and not so easily understood by the people. For a Jew to eat the body and drink the blood of a person was unthinkable and totally repugnant. Hence when Jesus told them that "the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh", many of them protested saying "how can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
The teaching of real presence of the Lord in the Eucharist was culminated at the last supper, where Jesus said to the disciples, "This is my body...this is my blood given for you": which was not easy to accept except in deep faith. But for a true follower of Jesus, there is no option but to accept the real presence of the Lord in the Eucharist. Jesus clearly warns us in these words, "unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you"(v.53)
Hence by partaking in the Eucharistic meal, a true believer is in communion with the Lord. The early Christian community understood it. That is why St. John specifically explains this teaching in the sixth Chapter of his Gospel. Let us appreciate this self gift of the Lord Jesus and accept that He is truly present in the Eucharistic bread.
"Jesus has made Himself the Bread of life to give us life" - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
First Reading: Proverbs 9:1-6
Second Reading: Ephesians 5: 15-20
Gospel Reading: John 6:51-58
* First reading is from the book of Proverbs. This passage personifies Wisdom as a great Lady who has built herself a great mansion. Wisdom invites everyone who is open minded to take part in the banquet given by her. Wisdom wants to teach people to walk in the way of insight.
* Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Ephesians. In this passage Ephesian Christians and all of us are urged by Paul to live according to the Christian wisdom they received. He asks them not to be foolish and live unworthy ways but rather be filled with the Holy Spirit and always live with hearts grateful to the Lord.
"Jesus is the Living Bread"
Today's Gospel reading is from St. John, Chapter 6. In this passage we have the teaching on Eucharist by our Lord Jesus. His teaching on Eucharist was rather extraordinary and not so easily understood by the people. For a Jew to eat the body and drink the blood of a person was unthinkable and totally repugnant. Hence when Jesus told them that "the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh", many of them protested saying "how can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
The teaching of real presence of the Lord in the Eucharist was culminated at the last supper, where Jesus said to the disciples, "This is my body...this is my blood given for you": which was not easy to accept except in deep faith. But for a true follower of Jesus, there is no option but to accept the real presence of the Lord in the Eucharist. Jesus clearly warns us in these words, "unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you"(v.53)
Hence by partaking in the Eucharistic meal, a true believer is in communion with the Lord. The early Christian community understood it. That is why St. John specifically explains this teaching in the sixth Chapter of his Gospel. Let us appreciate this self gift of the Lord Jesus and accept that He is truly present in the Eucharistic bread.
"Jesus has made Himself the Bread of life to give us life" - St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
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