Community Word:    Jesus the living bread is our way to eternal life.
Theme:    Eternal life is living according to God’s word and will.
Promise:     ” … the Lord heard and saved me from all distress.” (Ps 34:7)

Reflection:
We continue with the theme of Jesus as bread of life in this week’s gospel.  Addressing the crowds, He exhorted those who wished to follow Him to receive the gift of life: “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” (Jn 6:51).  This invitation to a close communion with Him includes us, if we are to remain strong in our faith.

For, he warns: “…unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you do not have life within you,” (Jn 6:53).  The “life” Jesus was talking about doubtless refers to the spiritual dimension in which we experience intimacy with God, the ultimate source of our happiness and fulfillment, and the element that sets us apart from the rest of God’s creation.

To this day Jesus continues to feed us with His love by giving us His body and blood in the Eucharist.  How wonderful it is to know that we can actually welcome Jesus into our life, into our own body and heart by partaking of this Eucharistic food!  What kind of power must this give us, as He becomes our very life!  And He assures us, that as we receive him, we receive eternal life.

Let us endeavor to be Christ-like at all times, placing God above all our attachments in life by being trustworthy servants and sharing our lives with the poor and needy, and by loving and in forgiving unconditionally.  Our time here on earth is brief, numbered and fleeting.  We must be prepared to detach ourselves from this transitory world, for with or without us, life goes on, and will continue for as long as God wills it to.  We have but to try to discern and comprehend the will of the Lord for ourselves: “…forsake foolishness that you may live; advance in the way of understanding.” (Prv 9:6)

Let every Eucharistic Celebration we attend be a solemn pledge and a recommitment on our part to always follow the ways of our Lord, to think like Him, speak like Him, act like Him, and be more like Him.  Let not our prayers be only for longer life but rather for eternal life with our Creator.

Let us learn to seek and strive for our permanent home in heaven.  With all our strength, let us offer our commitment and covenant service to our God that we may will live by His word and bless Him all our lives through our service to His people.

Reflection Questions:

1. What can the invitation to “forsake foolishness” mean in my life?

2. How should I live my life to gain eternal life?

Next Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
August 20, 2012 (Mon)     Ez 24:15-24/ Dt 32:18-21/ Mt 19:16-22
August 21, 2012 (Tue)    Ez 28:1-10/ Dt 32:26-28,30,35,36/ Mt 19:23-30
August 22, 2012 (Wed)    Ez 34:1-11/ Ps 23:1-6/ Mt 20:1-16
August 23, 2012 (Thu)    Ez 36:23-28/ Ps 51:12-15,18,19/ Mt 22:1-14
August 24, 2012 (Fri)    Rv 21:9-14/ Ps 145:10-13,17,18/ Jn 1:45-51
August 25, 2012 (Sat)    Ez 43:1-7/ Ps 85:9-14/ Mt 23:1-12

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ.  Read your Bible daily!”