Jesus...Bread of Life

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

~~~ 1 Kings 19:4-8 ~~~ Psalm 34 ~~~ Eph 4:30-5:20 ~~~ John 6: 41-51 ~~~

To the Jews Jesus was speaking in riddles, especially in regards to bread.

For the Jewish people every meal began with the breaking of the bread.

The bread was prayed over ...

Blessed are you, Lord our God, King of the universe,

who brings forth bread from the earth.

The Jews knew very well about the importance of bread and

that it came from God. They have, even today, special breads

to be eaten on the Sabbath and holidays.

Passover is  also known as the "Festival of the Unleavened Bread".

The Jews in the Gospel could not see how or why Jesus would say,

"I am the bread that came down from heaven,"

Jesus knows this is a huge leap of faith for them.

He knows they cannot possibly understand his words.

He reminds them about those who were fed by manna in the desert.

The manna that came down from heaven...from God.

"...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."

Throughout the ages God has fed his people.
Jesus came to bring us himself as our eternal bread.

Those who were fed in the desert died, but the bread Jesus is speaking of
to the Jews
is The Bread of Life.
When we eat this bread at every Eucharistic Celebration we are
demonstrating our belief....that Jesus is the eternal bread for our eternal life.

We believe in Life Eternal.
Nourished by Jesus himself gives us the responsibility to carry this life
within us out to others.
The Jews broke bread together, Jesus broke bread with his apostles,
Jesus fed the thousands baskets of bread.

Jesus is The Bread of Life!

We are a Eucharistic People!

If you believe this, how is it effecting your daily life.

We are called to live on this divine nourishment...

nourishment for our soul.

In the end the body no longer needs nourishment

but, the soul lives on forever.