Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

 

Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.

 

Gospel Reading: John 6:44-51

 

Jesus said to the crowds: "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. It is written in the prophets:  They shall all be taught by God.  Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father.  Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.  I am the bread of life.  Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die.  I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my Flesh for the life of the world."

 

Has anybody ever asked you, “Why you receive the Eucharist” or  “Where is it written about the power of the Eucharist?” In today’s Gospel reading, we hear the final part of the discourse on the Bread of Life and the revelation of its significance in our salvation. God so loved us that he emptied himself and became human.  In his humanity, he came more closely linked to our own humanity.  To extend his abundant love for us, Jesus gave us the Eucharist.  Why? Jesus tells his disciples that the Israelites were given manna from heaven and yet they still died, but the bread that Jesus offers us from God provides eternal life. Jesus claims to be this eternal bread of life. This is a claim which only God can make. Jesus says, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever.” There is no clearer statement about the power and mystery of the Eucharist. If we partake in the Eucharist, our bodies are fortified with abundant life in Christ which becomes our source of spiritual energy. The Eucharist is truly God himself which sustains us not only now, but also in our eternal life. “Amen, Amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.” To deny the Eucharist is to deny the very supernatural power of God himself. To deny the Eucharist is to deny life eternal. When we accept the Eucharist, we not only accept the nourishment of the spirit, we accept the healing graces, the wisdom of God, and the courage to live in his image. To accept the Eucharist is to accept a personal and intimate relationship with Christ. When you receive the Eucharist, remember that you are truly receiving Jesus Christ himself, the eternal “Bread of Life.” This is no symbolic representation, this is truly the Body of Christ, his Flesh given for the life of the world. When you receive the Eucharist, say “Amen, Amen, I believe in the eternal life granted by the Bread of Life.”

 

A Simple Prayer

 

Lord, you are the living Bread of Life which nourishes my body.

You are the Eucharist which provides the healing powers to strengthen my soul.

You are the life which fires the eternal flame within my soul.

Give me the wisdom and courage to believe and defend the Eucharist.

 

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon