‘The bread we break is a communion with the body of Christ’
Today’s feast is an opportunity to reflect on the wonderful mystery of the Eucharist: the sacrament that nourishes our faith and gives life to the world. Each reading offers an opportunity to pray about the significance of this gift, reminding us of the richness of the Eucharistic tradition in the Church.
Moses recalls that though the people of God were hungry and thirsty in the wilderness, God never abandoned them (First Reading). Instead, he encouraged them to have faith in his continuing living presence.
The Psalm suggests many reasons to praise God, including both the material and spiritual nourishment that God offers us.
Paul reminds the factious Corinthians of the profound spiritual significance of taking the body and blood of Christ. By participating in the Eucharist, they are uniting themselves to Christ and to the whole Christian community. (Second Reading)
In the Gospel, Jesus affirms that he is the bread of life: the very life force of God. Through his life, death and resurrection, Christ nourishes our deepest hunger for God. We draw life from him even as Jesus drew life from the Father.
This week, we pray for a deepening of Christian Unity. We ask that we may truly become one as followers of Christ.
