The
WORD today (see http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/081918.cfm) reminds
me that Jesus is the bread of life.
Food gives energy. When people
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 people about
a food more powerful and more important than the usual. Jesus, the bread of
life is powerful and will never make us hungry and thirsty.
As Catholics, we are blessed
because we believe that the consecrated wine and host during mass is the actual body and blood of Christ,
and not just representations as some believe. This is the bread of life.
Everytime we attend mass, we have the opportunity to partake of it. To be one
with him. And for him to consume us and be one with us. God loves us so much
and he is capable of saving us. We just need to make the decision to accept him
and allow Him to do so, and allowing Him to consume us during mass makes it
easier to make that decision.
When
we partake of Jesus, we will always be nourished. And we should show it through
our lives. As they say, you are what you eat. And since we take in God, we
should become godly. The second reading tells us that as we take in God, as we
are filled with the Holy Spirit, we should live like it. Showing love to others
by the way we treat them, rejoicing with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs,
while thanking God for everything.
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 make the most of the
Eucharist and allow Jesus to consume us and use us.
Father God,
Thank you for
today. thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another Sunday.
Thank you for sending your only Son to die for me. Thank you for loving me
however unworthy I am. Thank you for a very beautiful gift of the Holy
Eucharist. Sorry for not making the most out of it. Sorry for not preparing
myself for you. Sorry for all my excuses. I pray that I would always remember
the importance and power of it. May I always do my best and prepare to receive
you each time I hear mass. Give me the heart and the desire to always be
thirsty for you and make the most out of the Eucharist. As i receive you, I ask
that you consume me and make me more and more like you. May I always remember
how much you love me, and in turn, love you the best way I can. Amen.
Blessed
Sunday!
In
Christ,
-g-
August 19,
2018
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 119
Lectionary: 119
Reading 1 PRV 9:1-6
Wisdom has built her house,
she has set up her seven columns;
she has dressed her meat, mixed her wine,
yes, she has spread her table.
She has sent out her maidens; she calls
from the heights out over the city:
"Let whoever is simple turn in here;
To the one who lacks understanding, she says,
Come, eat of my food,
and drink of the wine I have mixed!
Forsake foolishness that you may live;
advance in the way of understanding."
she has set up her seven columns;
she has dressed her meat, mixed her wine,
yes, she has spread her table.
She has sent out her maidens; she calls
from the heights out over the city:
"Let whoever is simple turn in here;
To the one who lacks understanding, she says,
Come, eat of my food,
and drink of the wine I have mixed!
Forsake foolishness that you may live;
advance in the way of understanding."
Responsorial PsalmPS 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of
the Lord.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Reading 2 EPH 5:15-20
Brothers and sisters:
Watch carefully how you live,
not as foolish persons but as wise,
making the most of the opportunity,
because the days are evil.
Therefore, do not continue in ignorance,
but try to understand what is the will of the Lord.
And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery,
but be filled with the Spirit,
addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts,
giving thanks always and for everything
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.
Watch carefully how you live,
not as foolish persons but as wise,
making the most of the opportunity,
because the days are evil.
Therefore, do not continue in ignorance,
but try to understand what is the will of the Lord.
And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery,
but be filled with the Spirit,
addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts,
giving thanks always and for everything
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.
Alleluia JN 6:56
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
remains in me and I in him, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
remains in me and I in him, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel JN 6:51-58
Jesus said to the crowds:
"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."
The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying,
"How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
Jesus said to them,
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood,
you do not have life within you.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
has eternal life,
and I will raise him on the last day.
For my flesh is true food,
and my blood is true drink.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
remains in me and I in him.
Just as the living Father sent me
and I have life because of the Father,
so also the one who feeds on me
will have life because of me.
This is the bread that came down from heaven.
Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died,
whoever eats this bread will live forever."
"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."
The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying,
"How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
Jesus said to them,
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood,
you do not have life within you.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
has eternal life,
and I will raise him on the last day.
For my flesh is true food,
and my blood is true drink.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
remains in me and I in him.
Just as the living Father sent me
and I have life because of the Father,
so also the one who feeds on me
will have life because of me.
This is the bread that came down from heaven.
Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died,
whoever eats this bread will live forever."
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