Daily Readings Reflection for 4/24/10

Reflection on Today’s Daily Readings by Fr. Bertrand Buby, SM

Scripture: April 24, Sat. Lectionary # 278. Acts 9:31-42. Psalm
116:12-13,14-15,16-17. John 6:60-69.

Simon Peter speaks for the Twelve as Jesus completes the long discourse on
the Bread of Life. It was preceded by the multiplication of the loaves and
fish (the fourth of seven signs) and opened the way for Jesus to teach
about himself as the Bread of Life. We identify with Peter as he answers
this question of Jesus who is losing a lot of his followers by his telling
them of the gift of his body and blood in the Eucharist. Jesus asks, "Do
you want to leave me too?" And we, with Simon Peter, answer, "Lord, to
whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to
believe; we are convinced that you are God's Holy One." (6:60).

Just as that bread that was multiplied and then scattered among those
seated on the hillside, so, we, too, are nourished by the gift of the Lord
in the Eucharist. Some of us are able to participate in this gift of Jesus
each day; others, make it the center of their lives as often as they can
come to the Lord for communion.

Our Psalm can easily be reread in the light of the Bread of Life and
Eucharist theme that we heard these past days. For example, the line "the
cup of salvation I will take up and I will call upon the Name of the Lord."
Then another line follows near the end of the Psalm , "To you will I offer
a sacrifice of thanksgiving (Eucharist theme) and I will call upon the name
of the Lord."

During this season of Paschal celebration we have been enjoying the
discourse both on Baptism and on the Eucharist. These two sacraments unite
us to Jesus and to one another as we become the Body of Christ. Our
relationship with Jesus grows through the Eucharist and enables us to
realize we are part of the larger meaning of the Eucharist that has others
included and has a mission for each of us. We can take some time this
weekend to mull over and ponder over the words of Jesus about Baptism and
now about the Eucharist in chapters three and six respectively. We then
deepen our knowledge of who Jesus is when he says he is the Bread of Life.
Amen. Alleluia.