Today's gospel passage continues Jesus' explanations about the significance of the Eucharist. Here are some thoughts that might help us to deepen our understanding and appreciation for this wonderful gift.
Over the past few weeks, we have heard Jesus describing himself as the bread of life. Jesus was well aware of the central part that bread played in his disciples’ diet ... and in the cuisine of the Jewish people. He wanted to use this figure to explain the importance of developing a relationship between each one of us and our loving God who provides for all our needs.
Today, we hear Jesus saying to his disciples: I am the living bread that came down from heaven (Jn 6:51). In the same way as bread nourishes our bodies, the relationship of trust that we enjoy with our God nourishes our souls. The Church has always taught that when we receive the Eucharist, it is Jesus himself that we receive. The more frequently we eat of the bread of life, the more our relationship with Jesus will be strengthened, and the more our relationship is strengthened, the easier we will find it to tell others that the reason for our joy is the faith that we have in Him.
Jesus also encouraged his disciples to drink of his blood (Jn 6:53). Jewish people are all familiar with the rituals that surround the Sabbath meal, and they all know the details about the celebration of the Seder. It was in the context of a Seder meal that Jesus gave us the bread of life and told us to drink of his blood, but here again, we need to understand the importance of receiving this gift from the Lord. In the times of the early Church, Christians would gather to celebrate the Eucharist and they would consume both the body of Christ and the blood of Christ in accordance with his command. In the same way, when Christian communities gather for the celebration of the Eucharist today, bread is blessed and broken and wine that has been consecrated is consumed. As we receive these gifts, we should ask God to strengthen his life within us so that we will be aware of his presence coursing through our veins.
Strengthened by this food from heaven, we go out into the world to share the experience of our faith with others. Saint Paul reminds us to be careful about how we live, in order to make sure that we are not perceived as unwise people but rather as wise, making the most of the time we have been given (cf Eph 5:15-16).
Let us receive the gifts that are offered at the Lord’s table today, and let us ask our loving God to strengthen our awareness of His presence in our lives so that we may truly abide in Him this week, using our words and actions to show others the wisdom of our heavenly Father at work within us.
Eat, drink, abide
Over the past few weeks, we have heard Jesus describing himself as the bread of life. Jesus was well aware of the central part that bread played in his disciples’ diet ... and in the cuisine of the Jewish people. He wanted to use this figure to explain the importance of developing a relationship between each one of us and our loving God who provides for all our needs.
Today, we hear Jesus saying to his disciples: I am the living bread that came down from heaven (Jn 6:51). In the same way as bread nourishes our bodies, the relationship of trust that we enjoy with our God nourishes our souls. The Church has always taught that when we receive the Eucharist, it is Jesus himself that we receive. The more frequently we eat of the bread of life, the more our relationship with Jesus will be strengthened, and the more our relationship is strengthened, the easier we will find it to tell others that the reason for our joy is the faith that we have in Him.
Jesus also encouraged his disciples to drink of his blood (Jn 6:53). Jewish people are all familiar with the rituals that surround the Sabbath meal, and they all know the details about the celebration of the Seder. It was in the context of a Seder meal that Jesus gave us the bread of life and told us to drink of his blood, but here again, we need to understand the importance of receiving this gift from the Lord. In the times of the early Church, Christians would gather to celebrate the Eucharist and they would consume both the body of Christ and the blood of Christ in accordance with his command. In the same way, when Christian communities gather for the celebration of the Eucharist today, bread is blessed and broken and wine that has been consecrated is consumed. As we receive these gifts, we should ask God to strengthen his life within us so that we will be aware of his presence coursing through our veins.
Strengthened by this food from heaven, we go out into the world to share the experience of our faith with others. Saint Paul reminds us to be careful about how we live, in order to make sure that we are not perceived as unwise people but rather as wise, making the most of the time we have been given (cf Eph 5:15-16).
Let us receive the gifts that are offered at the Lord’s table today, and let us ask our loving God to strengthen our awareness of His presence in our lives so that we may truly abide in Him this week, using our words and actions to show others the wisdom of our heavenly Father at work within us.
Manger, boire, vivre
Au cours des dernières semaines, nous avons entendu Jésus se décrire comme le pain de la vie. Jésus était bien conscient du rôle central que le pain jouait dans le régime de ses disciples ... et dans la cuisine du peuple juif. Il a voulu utiliser cette figure pour expliquer l'importance de développer une relation entre chacun de nous et notre Seigneur qui pourvoit à tous nos besoins.
Aujourd'hui, nous entendons Jésus dire à ses disciples: Je suis le pain vivant qui est descendu du ciel (Jn 6,51). Tout comme le pain nourrit notre corps, c’est grâce à la relation de confiance dont nous jouissons avec notre Dieu que notre âme est nourrie. L'Eglise a toujours enseigné que lorsque nous recevons l'Eucharistie, c'est le corps de Jésus lui-même que nous recevons. Plus nous mangeons ce pain de vie, plus notre relation avec Jésus sera renforcée; et plus notre relation sera renforcée, plus nous trouverons facile de dire aux autres que la raison de notre joie c’est la foi que nous avons en Jésus Christ.
Jésus a également encouragé ses disciples à boire de son sang (Jn 6,53). Les juifs connaissent tous les rituels qui entourent le repas du sabbat et ils connaissent également tous les détails de la célébration du Seder. C'est dans le contexte d'un repas Seder que Jésus nous a donné le pain de vie et nous a dit de boire de son sang, mais là encore, nous devons comprendre l'importance de recevoir ce don du Seigneur. Dès l'époque des premiers siècles de l'Église, les chrétiens se réunissent pour célébrer l'Eucharistie et ils consomment à la fois le corps du Christ et le sang du Christ, conformément à son commandement. De même, lorsque les communautés chrétiennes se rassemblent pour la célébration de l’Eucharistie même aujourd’hui, le pain est béni et rompu et le vin consacré est consommé. En recevant ces dons, nous devrions demander à Dieu de renforcer sa vie en nous afin que nous sachions davantage qu’il est présent dans nos vies.
Renforcés par cette nourriture venue du ciel, nous partons dans le monde pour partager l'expérience de notre foi avec les autres. Saint Paul nous rappelle l’importance de toujours prendre bien garde à notre conduite pour que nous ne vivions pas comme des fous, mais comme des sages, tirant parti du temps présent (cf Ep 5, 15-16).
Recevons les dons offerts à la table du Seigneur aujourd'hui et demandons à notre Dieu d'amour de renforcer notre conscience de sa présence dans nos vies afin que nous puissions véritablement demeurer en Lui cette semaine, en utilisant nos paroles et nos actions pour montrer aux autres la sagesse de notre Père céleste qui est à l’oeuvre.
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