"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.”
(John 6:51)
Jesus identifies Himself as the living bread that came down from heaven. This metaphor teaches us about the spiritual nourishment that Jesus provides. Just as physical bread sustains physical life, Jesus, the Bread of Life, sustains spiritual life. Those who believe in Him will have eternal life. This underscores the promise that comes through faith in Jesus Christ. These lessons can guide us in our spiritual journey, reminding us of the importance of faith in Jesus, the role of God in drawing us to Jesus, and the spiritual nourishment that Jesus provides.
44 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. 45 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. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; 50 this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. 51 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.” (John 6:44-51)
From heaven above, a Living Bread descends, a gift of love, that on our faith depends. Jesus, the name, in our hearts engraved, through Him, our weary souls are saved. Just as the body seeks sustenance in grain, our spirits yearn for a love, unfeigned. Physical bread may life sustain, but the Bread of Life breaks every chain. Believe in Him, embrace His grace, in His loving arms, find your place. Eternal life, His promise so bright, a beacon of hope, in the darkest night. Lessons we learn, on this spiritual quest, in faith and love, we are truly blessed. The role of God, in our journey's plan, drawing us closer, to the Son of Man. Nourishment true, He does provide, in His teachings, we confide. Guiding us on, with His gentle hand, towards the promise of the Promised Land.
Dear Lord Jesus, You are the Living Bread that came down from heaven, Your words and teachings, to us, they've been given. Just as physical bread sustains our life, You, the Bread of Life, relieve our strife. You provide spiritual nourishment, so profound, in Your teachings, true wisdom is found. Those who believe in You, will have eternal life, free from sin, free from strife. This promise underscores the faith we have in You, a faith so strong, a love so true. These lessons guide us in our spiritual journey, reminding us of Your love, so worthy. We acknowledge the importance of faith in You, and the role of God, in all that we do. You provide us with spiritual nourishment, a gift from above, a heavenly encouragement. In Your holy name, we pray, Amen.
God cares for each individual and goes to great lengths to bring each one to salvation. The message of Christ is for everyone, regardless of their ethnicity, social status, or physical condition. We should always be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives and responding promptly to faith. God uses His servants to spread His word and bring others to faith, guiding them to the right place at the right time. Let us be willing and ready to share the Gospel whenever the opportunity arises.
26 The angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, “Get up and head south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert route.” 27 So he got up and set out. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, that is, the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury, who had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and was returning home. Seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go and join up with that chariot.” 30 Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 He replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him. 32 This was the Scripture passage he was reading: Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 33 In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who will tell of his posterity? For his life is taken from the earth. 34 Then the eunuch said to Philip in reply, “I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this? About himself, or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this Scripture passage, he proclaimed Jesus to him. 36 As they traveled along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, there is water. What is to prevent my being baptized?” 37-38 Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 When they came out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but continued on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip came to Azotus, and went about proclaiming the good news to all the towns until he reached Caesarea. (Acts 8:26-40)
In every heart, in every nation, God plants the seed of His salvation. No matter the status, the color, the creed, He knows our hearts, He knows our need. His love, it stretches across the earth, reaching out to each soul, giving new birth. From every ethnicity, every condition, He calls us all to His holy mission. The Spirit leads us, gentle and kind, in our hearts His voice we find. Promptly responding to faith's sweet call, in His love, we surrender all. Servants of God, spreading His word, to every corner where it's unheard. Guided by Him, in time and space, ready to share His saving grace. So let us be open, let us be willing, with His love, the world we're filling. For God cares for each, and goes to great lengths, in His strength, we find our strengths.
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your boundless love that reaches out to each one of us from above. You care for every individual, every soul, and go to great lengths to make us whole. We thank You for the message of Christ, a message for everyone, no matter the price. Regardless of ethnicity, status, or condition, we are all recipients of Your divine mission. Help us to be open to the Holy Spirit's lead, in our lives, in our actions, in every deed. May we respond promptly to faith's call, and in Your love, may we give our all. We thank You for using us as Your tools, to spread Your word, Your heavenly rules. guiding us to the right place at the right time, in this mission, in this rhythm and rhyme. Let us be willing, let us be ready, to share the Gospel, steady and steady. Whenever the opportunity arises, help us to share Your love that surprises. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.
God’s constant presence has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. His guidance often comes with challenges that refine us and help us grow. We should respond to God’s goodness with commitment and obedience, worship and gratitude. Let us share our own experiences of God’s faithfulness with others remembering and celebrating God’s goodness in our lives.
8 Bless our God, you peoples, loudly sound his praise; 9 he has given life to our souls, and has not let our feet slip. 16 Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare what he has done for me. 17 When I appealed to him in words, praise was on the tip of my tongue. 20 Blessed be God who refused me not my prayer or his kindness! (Psalm 66:8-9, 16-17, 20)
In the quiet whispers of the night, underneath the soft moonlight, God's presence, a constant sight, preserving us with all His might. Our feet, from slipping, He does keep, even when the mountains are steep. His guidance, though it may seem deep, leads us to promises we'll reap. Challenges come, they refine, in them, His love does shine. Helping us to align, with His divine design. Respond we must, with hearts ablaze, in commitment and obedience, our hands we raise. With worship and gratitude, we sing His praise, His goodness, we forever appraise. Let us share, let us impart, our experiences, from the heart. Of God's faithfulness, we are a part, celebrating His goodness, is but a start.
Dear Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your constant presence, preserving our lives with Your essence. You've kept our feet from slipping, even when the world around us is flipping. Your guidance often comes with challenges, Yet, they are but refining balances. Helping us to grow, to rise, underneath Your watchful eyes. May we respond to Your goodness with obedience, with commitment, worship, and resilience. May our hearts overflow with gratitude, as we comprehend Your magnitude. Let us share our experiences of Your faithfulness, with others, in their joy and in their distress. remembering and celebrating Your goodness in our lives, knowing that it is through You that we thrive. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.
Pericope:
Gospel
II: The Book of Signs
THE BREAD OF LIFE DISCOURSE
John 6:44-51
First Reading
III: The Mission in Judea and Samaria
PHILIP AND THE ETHIOPIAN
Acts 8:26-40
Responsorial Psalm
Second Book of Psalms 42-72
PRAISE OF GOD, ISRAEL'S DELIVERER
Psalm 66:1-20
