Daily Gospel Reflection for August 16, 2015

Today's Gospel: John 6:51-58

People will argue over the proper use of the contemporary classic Catholic hymn, “I am the Bread of Life,” and I'm not enough of a liturgical expert to have a strongly-formed opinion on the question. But I do love that a generation of Catholics has learned the famous Bread of Life Discourse from John chapter 6 by simple repetition of that one song.

Today's Gospel could come right off the pages of the internet: Catholics affirm Jesus's teaching—the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world—and the entire world rises up and says, “That's ridiculous!”

Who are you idiots, saying a piece of bread is the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, God Himself?

Who are you fools, kneeling and bowing and praying to what looks for all the world like something one crumbles into soup?

Well, it looks like that to all the world. But it's not.

Like our Lord said in His day, we say in ours: Whoever eats His flesh and drinks His blood has eternal life . . . this is the bread that came down from heaven.

Ponder:

When I enter a Catholic church, am I aware that I've just stepped into the court of the King of the Universe? Do I treat my time in His presence with the solemnity, majesty, and awe that such a visit deserves?

Pray:

Dear Lord, grow in me an overwhelming awareness of your Holy Presence in the Blessed Sacrament. When I see the Sacred Host and Precious Blood, let me always see You. Whether I make a spiritual communion or receive You physically, let me treasure every intimate moment I have with You, poured out for the life of the world. Amen.

We thank our friends at The Word Among Us for providing our gospel reflection team with copies of Abide In My Word 2015: Mass Readings at Your Fingertips. To pray the daily gospels with this wonderful resource, visit The Word Among Us.

Copyright 2015 Jennifer Fitz