"LORD , YOU HAVE THE WORDS OF ETERNAL LIFE"
First Reading: Joshua 24: 1-2, 15-18
Second Reading: Ephesians 5: 25-32
Gospel Reading: John 6: 60-69
* First reading is from the book of Joshua. In this passage Joshua asks the people of Israel to decide either to serve the Lord their God or other gods. The chosen people affirmed their firm faith in the Lord God and decided to serve the true God who liberated them from the slavery of Egypt and who in the past did great signs and wonders in their midst.
* Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Ephesians. In this passage Paul speaks of the mutual love and respect between husband and wife. He compares this relationship of husband and wife to Christ's love for the Church. As members of His body, we are constantly being nourished by Christ. In the same way husband and wife should nourish each other in love.
"Will you also go away?"
Today's Gospel reading is from St. John, Chapter 6. This passage is in the context of the sad turn of events after the multiplication bread by Jesus. After the miracle, Jesus gave a teaching that unless they eat His body and drink His blood, they will not have life. People took this teaching literally. As a result, many who followed Jesus till that day said goodbye and went away.
Seeing the negative reaction of the crowd Jesus put a challenging question to the Apostles. "Will you also go away?" Peter responded immediately and gave a very reassuring and important answer which spoke of the need to stick to Jesus and His teachings by saying "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life". In moments of doubts and confusion, let us be assured that it is not the Lord who leaves us, but often we who leave Him.
Right from the time of Jesus till today, the teaching on Eucharist remains a dividing force. Even today many of the followers of Christ are unable to accept it and those who accept it are often unworthy to receive it. This fact is expressed by St. Paul in his first letter to Corinthians. "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? We who are many are one body for we all partake of the one bread" (1 Cor. 10: 16-17)
Now it is our turn to tell the Lord "Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life".
Let our prayer always be, 'draw us closer to you, O Lord, so that we may follow you in love and trust'.
First Reading: Joshua 24: 1-2, 15-18
Second Reading: Ephesians 5: 25-32
Gospel Reading: John 6: 60-69
* First reading is from the book of Joshua. In this passage Joshua asks the people of Israel to decide either to serve the Lord their God or other gods. The chosen people affirmed their firm faith in the Lord God and decided to serve the true God who liberated them from the slavery of Egypt and who in the past did great signs and wonders in their midst.
* Second reading is from the letter of St. Paul to Ephesians. In this passage Paul speaks of the mutual love and respect between husband and wife. He compares this relationship of husband and wife to Christ's love for the Church. As members of His body, we are constantly being nourished by Christ. In the same way husband and wife should nourish each other in love.
"Will you also go away?"
Today's Gospel reading is from St. John, Chapter 6. This passage is in the context of the sad turn of events after the multiplication bread by Jesus. After the miracle, Jesus gave a teaching that unless they eat His body and drink His blood, they will not have life. People took this teaching literally. As a result, many who followed Jesus till that day said goodbye and went away.
Seeing the negative reaction of the crowd Jesus put a challenging question to the Apostles. "Will you also go away?" Peter responded immediately and gave a very reassuring and important answer which spoke of the need to stick to Jesus and His teachings by saying "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life". In moments of doubts and confusion, let us be assured that it is not the Lord who leaves us, but often we who leave Him.
Right from the time of Jesus till today, the teaching on Eucharist remains a dividing force. Even today many of the followers of Christ are unable to accept it and those who accept it are often unworthy to receive it. This fact is expressed by St. Paul in his first letter to Corinthians. "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? We who are many are one body for we all partake of the one bread" (1 Cor. 10: 16-17)
Now it is our turn to tell the Lord "Lord to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life".
Let our prayer always be, 'draw us closer to you, O Lord, so that we may follow you in love and trust'.
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