EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME AUGUST 1, 2021

MASS READINGS:

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Jn 6:24-35

When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. And when they found him across the sea they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.” So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.” So they said to him, “What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.” So Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” So they said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger,

and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”

REFLECTION

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”

The Lord asked the followers if they were looking for physical food that perishes or food that gives eternal life. What are we looking for when we seek God? Are we seeking a spiritual life in us? Or are we wanting full tummies?

The words spoken by Jesus are that He is the bread of life. Only He can produce eternal life. We believe that Jesus is God's Son who was sent into the world to bring us a new life of selfless sacrifice, patience, truth, kindness, love of God and forgiveness of others. Only Jesus can transform us and strengthen us to be Eucharistic christians.

Jesus is promising us that we can, through Him, attain life where no one dies and lives eternally. He has revealed the Holy Eucharist in which He becomes food for us that never perishes. We become flesh of his flesh and blood of his blood. ( St Cyril of Jerusalem) The non catholic believes that the bread is symbolic as the manna, but truly the resurrected Jesus (the Holy Eucharist) is consumed--His Body, His Blood, His Soul and His Divinity. We are gradually changed into Him.

May we always seek Jesus for the sake of Jesus and not for our worldly needs.

God Bless You