Thursday, April 18, 2024
Flesh for the life of the world
An excerpt from John 6:50-51
Jesus said, “This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
Reflection from Cheryl Trevithick, St. Gregory’s: When I reflect on this passage, I am mainly drawn to the symbolism of bread and the parallels to Jesus’s teachings. Bread is a source of nourishment that can sustain us in this world. When Jesus refers to himself as the Living Bread, I believe he is saying that if we put our trust in him as our Savior, he will serve as food for our souls.
A second concept is the transformation and many shapes bread can take. When Jesus spoke this passage, he was ridiculed because people’s preconceived ideas of what a Messiah should be didn’t match what they saw or heard. Sometimes our body clouds our acknowledgement of the Holy Spirit.
One final image is the sharing of bread at the Last Supper. When we celebrate Holy Communion together, we remember our union with each other and with God. I believe that Jesus wants us to share in his love and gift with everyone we meet.
ADDITIONAL READINGS:
For further study and prayer, the readings assigned for today are:
• Psalms 66:14–18
• Acts 8:26–40
• John 6:44–51
MUSIC:
“Eat this Bread”
taize by Jacques Berthier
“Eat this bread, drink this cup,
Come to him and never be hungry.
Eat this bread, drink this cup,
Trust in him and you will not thirst.”
Tags: Easter to Pentecost 2024