Daily Gospel Reflection for April 26, 2023

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: John 6:35-40

I Am . . . Bread.

I have known hunger—real, gnawing hunger that tears through your stomach into your backbone. I imagine that many of us have known that kind of hunger as well—at least once in our lives. It’s unpleasant, and painful. In fact, food—or the lack of food—has inspired entire global and economic systems in an effort to address this most fundamental requirement.

If you break down all the laws, bureaucracies, institutions, and organizations into their most elemental objectives, it all comes down to nourishing the individual through the acquisition of food—because without food, there is no survival. Food is the fuel of human society.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus identifies Himself as the Bread of Life; He identifies Himself . . . as food. What can this mean for us? For mankind? It means that we are more than the sum of our physicality. Yes, we need food for our survival, but more importantly, we need nourishment for our souls. The Creator gifted us with souls, “Which are the innermost aspect of man [and of] greatest value in him.” (CCC 363)

Therefore, this most valuable aspect must be tended and sustained as well—for the nature of the soul is eternal. Therefore, it must be fed with food that lives forever. It must be nourished with God Himself, in the Person of Jesus Christ.

Mass acquires its critical dimension when we realize that we are presenting our souls before the altar to receive the eternal, life-giving Body and Blood of Jesus Christ . . . the Bread of Life, Who came down from heaven to feed . . . us.

Ponder:

Do I recognize the sustaining power of the Holy Eucharist in my soul?

Pray:

O Lord, help me to faithfully present my soul at Mass for nurturing and sustenance.

Click to tweet:
Yes, we need food for our survival, but more importantly, we need nourishment for our souls. #DailyGospel

Copyright 2023 Sarah Torbeck