WSC Reflection Guide - 8/16/24

JESUS IS OUR SPIRITUAL FOOD FOR ETERNAL LIFE...

Word Sharing Circle (WSC) Reflection Guide

Readings taken from:

August 11, 2024 (Cycle B, Yr. II) – 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Community Word: Jesus, the Living Bread, nourishes and sustains our journey to eternal life.

Theme: We are nourished and sustained for eternal life when we partake of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist.

Promise: “...whoever eats this bread will live forever.” (Jn 6:51b)

Reflection:

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven,” says the Lord (Jn 6:51). The discourse of Jesus declaring that He is the “bread of life” is central to our faith in the Eucharist. People then could not fathom the mystery and the reality of the pronouncement of Jesus. But today, as Catholics, we have accepted in faith the Paschal mystery and the mystery of the Holy Eucharist. Jesus became man and died for our salvation. And more than that, He gave Himself physically to us to this day, as the Living Bread.

In the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, bread and wine are transubstantiated into the body and blood of our Lord Jesus, and we partake of Him by receiving Him in Holy Communion. Every time we partake of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, He becomes present to us, as He was present to Mary and Joseph in a manger in Bethlehem (which in Hebrew means ‘house of bread '). Truly, He is the Emmanuel, God-with-us, just as He promised to be with us always until the end of age before He ascended to heaven (cf Mt 28:20). His physical presence in our life is only possible through the Holy Eucharist.

Bread is the staple food among the Hebrews, just as rice is to us. God makes use of an ordinary commodity to express our basic need of Him in our daily life. “Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God,” (Mt 4:4). When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we say, “Our Father who art in heaven…give us this day our daily bread…” Not only do we implore God for material food to feed our body, but we listen and live by His word and partake the Bread of Life in Holy Communion to nourish our soul.

How can we survive our earthly journey if God will not provide us with what we need? How can we receive His provisions unless we ask Him in faith, hope and love? Without God, we are nothing and we can do nothing. It is only by God’s grace that all things are possible for us. As the Israelites were fed with manna in the desert to reach the Promised Land, we will also reach our eternal destination in heaven when we are fed with Jesus Himself, for He is the Bread of life.

In the Holy Mass is a Eucharistic banquet where we are all invited. In the Holy Eucharist, especially when we partake of it daily, we are nourished with spiritual food for our journey, for we are given courage and strength to persevere in faith, hope and love. The fruit of going to Mass, the summit of Christian prayer and worship, is a harmonious relationship with everyone in peace and love. The Bread of Life we receive transforms us into Eucharistic people and we become in the world His very presence, too. The Eucharist leads us to be united in Christ and in our family and community where we experience mutual care, understanding, kindness and respect for each other.

Receiving Jesus in the Holy Eucharist is the measure of our love for Him, the most genuine and concrete way of accepting Him in our life, for He came that we might live. We become what we eat; so receiving Holy Communion brings us close to Jesus, to be like Him day by day. Thus, Jesus gives us this promise and assurance, “...whoever eats this bread will live forever.” (Jn 6:51b).

Prayer:

I love You, O my God in the Most Holy Sacrament of the altar. You are the Bread of my life. Without You I am nothing. I thank You for loving me. I worship and adore You, I love You and I hope in You. And I humbly ask pardon for all those who do not believe in You. I pray that all may know and love You, our God and Father, as You deserve to be loved. May I love You with the same love You have for me and for all of creation. Amen.

Reflection Questions:

1. What is your experience every time you receive Holy Communion, being conscious that you are actually receiving Jesus Christ? Share that experience.

2. Does receiving of the Holy Eucharist regularly rekindle your prayer life, and make you a better and loving person?

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:

Aug 11, 2024 (Sun) – 1Kgs 19:4-8/ Ps 34:2-9/ Eph 4:30-5:2/ Jn 6:41-51

Aug 12, 2024 (Mon) – Ez 1:2-5, 24-28/ Ps 148:1, 2, 11, 12-14/ Mt 17:22-27

Aug 13, 2024 (Tue) – Ez 2:8-3:4/ Ps 119:14,24,72,103,111,131/ Mt 18:1-5,10,12-14

Aug 14, 2024 (Wed) – Ez 9:1-7/ Ps 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6/ Mt 18:15-20

Aug 15, 2024 (Thu) – Rv 11:10; 12:1-6, 10/ Ps 45:10, 11, 12, 16/ 1 Cor 15:20-27/ Lk 1:39-56

Aug 16, 2024 (Fri) – Ez 16:1-15, 60, 63/ Is 12:2-6/ Mt 19:3:121

Aug 11, 2024 (Sat) – Ez 18:1-10, 13, 30-32/ Ps 51:12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19/ Mt 19:13-15

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”

Council of Servant Leaders

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Alfred S. Kudemus

CSL Secretariat

BLD Catholic Charismatic Covenant Community

"Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:16