Bread Of Life

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/050217.cfm) reminds me how powerful Jesus, the bread of life, is. 

Food gives energy. When athletes train and exercise, it is important that they eat properly, so they would have nutrients and energy to train. In the gospel, we see Jesus telling the people about a food more powerful and more important than the usual. Jesus, the bread of life, will never make us hungry and thirsty.

We see an application of this in the first reading. Stephen willingly died for the faith. He was filled with the bread of life, that is why he did not fear death and was even able to pray for the people who were about to kill him. That’s the power Jesus gives. Nothing and no one on earth can scare us or take our focus away from God. 

Jesus gives us power to do great things for God’s kingdom, no matter what the cost is.

IF we focus on Jesus and partake of him, the bread of life, then we will always be nourished. We will never be hungry for God, and will never thirst for God, because he is always with us. IF we have him in our lives, He can use us mightily to further his kingdom. We will know how important God’s kingdom is, compared to the here and now. 

May we allow Jesus to consume us and use us.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for the reminder. Lord, thank you for loving me and sharing your love and power with me. Sorry for the times I take you for granted. Help me focus on you, the bread of life, as I live. May I consume you through the Eucharist. May my love and desire for you continue to grow day by day. AS I do so, I allow you to take over me and use me. amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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May 2, 2017
Memorial of Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 274

Reading 1ACTS 7:51—8:1A

Stephen said to the people, the elders, and the scribes:
"You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears,
you always oppose the Holy Spirit;
you are just like your ancestors.
Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute?
They put to death those who foretold the coming of the righteous one,
whose betrayers and murderers you have now become.
You received the law as transmitted by angels,
but you did not observe it."

When they heard this, they were infuriated,
and they ground their teeth at him.
But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit,
looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God
and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,
and Stephen said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened
and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God."
But they cried out in a loud voice,
covered their ears, and rushed upon him together.
They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him.
The witnesses laid down their cloaks
at the feet of a young man named Saul. 
As they were stoning Stephen, he called out,
"Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice,
"Lord, do not hold this sin against them";
and when he said this, he fell asleep.

Now Saul was consenting to his execution.

Responsorial PsalmPS 31:3CD-4, 6 AND 7B AND 8A, 17 AND 21AB

R. (6a) Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety.
You are my rock and my fortress;
for your name's sake you will lead and guide me.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
My trust is in the LORD;
I will rejoice and be glad of your mercy.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your kindness.
You hide them in the shelter of your presence
from the plottings of men.
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
or:
R. Alleluia.

AlleluiaJN 6:35AB

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the bread of life, says the Lord;
whoever comes to me will never hunger.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GospelJN 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."