O how near are we to each other when we are
all united in God! How well do we converse when we have but a single will and a single thought in God who is all things in us! Would you find your true friends, then? Seek them only in God who is the single source of true and eternal friendship. Would you speak with or hear from them? Sink in silence into the bosom of Christ who is the word, the life, and the soul of all those who speak and live the truth. You will find in Him not only every want supplied, but everything perfect,
which you find so imperfect in the creatures in whom you confide.
- Francois Fenelon
(God as the Center and foundation of your life: so let it be today.)
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ACTS 8:26-40; PS 66:8-9, 16-17, 20
JN 6:44-51
Jesus said to the crowds:
"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him,
and I will raise him on the last day.
It is written in the prophets:
They shall all be taught by God.
Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me.
Not that anyone has seen the Father
except the one who is from God;
he has seen the Father.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes has eternal life.
I am the bread of life.
Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died;
this is
the bread that comes down from heaven
so that one may eat it and not die.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give
is my Flesh for the life of the world."
Reflection on the
Scriptures |
In John’s gospel writings from today, we read about Jesus telling his followers that the path to God, the Father, is through him. He relates himself to bread and even calls himself, “the bread of life.” We have heard this connection of Jesus to bread many times in the gospels and other readings, in songs, in homilies, and most significantly, in the consecrated bread we receive at Holy
Communion.
As I read the gospel reading for today, this connection and imagery stood out to me. I couldn’t seem to focus on other parts of the reading – only the connection that Jesus is bread and that bread is Jesus. So, this is where my reflection
for today is centered. What is it about Jesus and bread that is important for me to understand? Why does Jesus make this connection? And, what can it mean for me today?
- by Tom Lenz
Revelations of Divine
Love - by Julian of Norwich
Fourteenth Revelation, Chapter 51
“He is the Head, and we be His members.” “Therefore our Father nor may nor will more blame assign to us than to His own Son, precious and worthy Christ”
AND then our Courteous Lord answered in shewing full mistily a wonderful example of a Lord that hath a Servant: and He gave me sight to my understanding of both. Which sight was shewed doubly in
the Lord and doubly in the Servant: the one part was shewed spiritually in bodily likeness, and the other part was shewed more spiritually, without bodily likeness.
For the first [sight], thus, I saw two persons in bodily likeness: that is to say, a Lord and a Servant; and therewith God gave me spiritual
understanding. The Lord sitteth stately in rest and in peace; the Servant standeth by afore his Lord reverently, ready to do his Lord’s will. The Lord looketh upon his Servant full lovingly and sweetly, and meekly he sendeth him to a certain place to do his will. The Servant not only he goeth, but suddenly he starteth, and runneth in great haste, for love to do his Lord’s will. And anon he falleth into a slade, [169] and taketh full great hurt. And then he groaneth and moaneth and waileth and
struggleth, but he neither may rise nor help himself by no manner of way.
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