A WORD FOR TODAY 8 AUGUST 2021

A WORD FOR TODAY

JESUS IS THE LIVING BREAD

_“I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh."  (John 6:50-51)_

_*It is in the nature of food to sustain and preserve an already existing life. However in today's gospel reading, we hear what appears to be a novelty, something which until that blessed day our Lord uttered them has never been heard of and has not been tainted ever since. Jesus proclaims himself as life giving food, the Living Bread which gives life to man, and not just any life, eternal life.*_

_In the first reading from the first Book of Kings, we see the prophet Elijah going to seek God at Mount Horeb, and journeying through the desert, he began to grow weak and even desired to die. However, an angel from heaven brought him food which he ate and journeyed on without getting tired forty day and forty nights. This was a clear prefigurement of the Eucharist, because we too in our journey through life and towards heaven, have been given the Panis Angelorum - the Bread of angels, the Panis Vivus - the Living bread, the Panem de Caelo - the Bread from Heaven, the Panis Vitae - the Bread of Life: Jesus Christ himself, truly present in the Eucharist, under the appearance of bread and wine._

_*The life Jesus promises us is eternal life, because as God he operates with eternity, but for our sake, he has given us his body in time to serve as strength and nourishment as we journey on to eternity. But the Eucharist is not just a promise of eternal life, and a pledge of future glory, it also shapes our lives here and directs how we live as we continue our daily lives. That is why the second reading reminds us that all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, malice and slander must be put away from us, urging us to be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave us. This is our Eucharistic summons, because as often as we receive the Eucharist worthily, these fruits must be made manifest in us.*_

_Jesus is the Bread that came down from heaven, the Bread both living and life-giving, he is truly present in the Eucharist, his love proving, as once he did upon the Cross, giving his life to restore loss. We must learn to appreciate the great gift of the Eucharist to us, we must drive away every lukewarmness that hinders us from partaking in this heavenly banquet, we must rekindle a longing in our hearts for the Eucharist. The Eucharist is food for our souls, but many have left their souls malnourished, we must make the effort to receive the graces and life that Jesus promises to those who eat his body and drink his blood. The journey is before us, as the angel told Elijah the prophet, so I say to you my dear friends, “Arise and eat, else the journey will be too great for you!" and with the psalmist I urge you to “Taste and see that the Lord is good!"*_

_*Good morning dearest one. I wish you a very Happy Sunday, today is a great day, so smile ☺, be happy, stand strong with the strength that comes from the Eucharistic Jesus and march on to victory. And may the Almighty God bless you: the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.*_

*Meditation:* 1 Kings 19:4-8/Ps Psalm 34:2-3.4-5.6-7.8-9/Ephesians 4:30-5:2/John 6:41-51

*Watch-Word:* Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Blessed the man who seeks refuge in him.

*Allow the Lord to transform you with his Eucharistic presence, he is the life giving Bread, he who gives life, would also give meaning, so Jesus also gives meaning to our lives and all our longings are fulfilled in him.*

(Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Cycle B)