A Gospel according to Jn 6:30-35
The crowd said to Jesus: “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 Jesus, “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: "For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world."
Have you been able to attend Mass in person since the pandemic? Does it make a difference to stream it or to attend live?
During the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and the Eucharist we do not only present God our afflictions, joys, petitions and thanksgiving.
The Mass is more than just a vertical relationship between men and God. During the divine liturgy, the priest is surrounded by the cloud of witnesses, these are the angels, saints and our Mother Mary. Those present become completely united with Jesus during communion...
"The Mass is at the same time, and inseparably, the sacrificial memorial in which the sacrifice of the cross is perpetuated and the sacred banquet of communion with the Lord's body and blood. But the celebration of the Eucharistic sacrifice is wholly directed toward the intimate union of the faithful with Christ through communion. To receive communion is to receive Christ himself who has offered himself for us." (CCC 1382)"The Eucharist is the heart and the summit of the Church's life, for in it Christ associates his Church and all her members with his sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving offered once for all on the cross to his Father; by this sacrifice he pours out the graces of salvation on his Body which is the Church." (CCC 1407).When we receive the Eucharist, we truly participate in receiving Jesus' Soul, Body, Blood and Divinity. It is not a simple act of worship where we present our petitions or praise to God. He comes down into us, who don't deserve it, so we can receive His graces.
"In the most blessed sacrament of the Eucharist "the body and blood, together with the soul and divinity, of our Lord Jesus Christ and, therefore, the whole Christ is truly, really, and substantially contained." "(CCC 1374)Holy Communion augments our union with Christ. The principal fruit of receiving the Eucharist in Holy Communion is an intimate union with Christ Jesus. Indeed, the Lord said: "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him." Life in Christ has its foundation in the Eucharistic banquet: "As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me." (CCC 1391)