In today's Gospel we learn about the crowd's reaction to Jesus teaching that he is the bread of life.
Holy Spirit, fill my heart and illuminate my mind. Help me to hear and understand God's message today. Help me to recognise when God is trying to speak to me in my daily life. Amen
The Jews murmured about Jesus because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven, ”and they said, “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”
Jesus answered and said to them,“Stop murmuring among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. 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. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God;he has seen the Father.
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 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 heavenso that one may eat it and not die. 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.”
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1I-8ReAKbo (Credit to Catholic Kids Media)
Ask: Why doesn’t the crowd believe that Jesus came down from heaven? (They know that his father is Joseph; they know his family.) How does Jesus reply to this? (He says that those who listen to God will know that Jesus came from God.)
Say: Jesus makes several connections in today’s Gospel that help us understand better the gift he gives us in the Eucharist. Let’s work together to identify what these are. The first connection is between God and Jesus. What does Jesus teach us about the connection between him and God the Father? (The Father sent Jesus; only Jesus has seen the Father.) The second connection teaches us about the bread that Jesus calls the bread of life. Who sends the bread of life? (God) Who is the bread of life? (Jesus) The third connection is the gift that is given to those who eat the bread of life. What gift is given to those who eat this bread? (eternal life) Finally, what does Jesus tell us about the bread that he will give? (This bread is his flesh given for the life of the world.)
Say: When we offer our gifts at the Mass, we see bread and wine. But Jesus helps us see beyond these appearances. Our faith in Jesus leads us to believe that the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Jesus, given to us so that we may have eternal life.
Conclude in prayer together that we will grow in our understanding and faith in the Eucharist.
Father in heaven, for the conversion of sinners, we give you today, all that we think and do and say, and we join it with all that was done by Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen
