REFLECTIONS TODAY Gospel • John 10:11-18 The evangelist John introduces the image of the shepherd by describing how the shepherd enters the sheepfold, calls the sheep by name, and leads the flock to pasture. Then Jesus identifies himself as the good shepherd who lays down his life for the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Jesus makes claims that can be understood only in terms of his origin. He is “the bread that came down from heaven” (Jn 6:41), because his origin is the Father, who is from above. His opponents will not consider that as a possibility: they know that his father is Joseph, who...
REFLECTIONS TODAY “For my Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink.” This is the central solemn affirmation of the discourse on the Bread of Life, and it is the most explicitly eucharistic. The previous declaration of Jesus as Bread of Life refers to his whole person, his words and...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Faith in Jesus is not the fruit of sheer human effort; it is a grace of God. It is the Father who draws men and women to Jesus and, ultimately, to himself. Jesus says that this has already been prophesied: “They shall all be taught by God” (Is 54:13). The Isaian oracle...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The words of Jesus carry pastoral undertones and refer to his function as the Good Shepherd (Jn 10:14). While “anything” is neuter singular, it is sometimes used in reference to persons. Here it refers to the disciples, those who believe in Jesus. But Jesus has “other...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The discourse on the Bread of Life begins from the citation from the Torah (Law): Moses tells the people of the manna that appeared in the camp of the Israelites, “It is the bread which the Lord has given you to eat” (Ex 16:15). The psalmist looks back to the gift of manna,...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The basic nourishment for the human body is food and drink. People, Jesus says, ask, “What are we to eat?” or “What are we to drink?” (Mt 6:31). These are legitimate concerns, but life is more than food and drink that satisfy the body. Here in the Gospel, Jesus offers to...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Gospel • Luke 24:35-48 The two disciples recounted what had taken place on the way, and how Jesus was made known to them in the breaking of bread. While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” But they were...
REFLECTIONS TODAY “I am” is how the Lord God refers to himself in the Old Testament, especially when he makes his presence felt by his people to help them overcome fear. When God reveals himself to Moses in the burning bush, he tells him, “I am who I am… This is what you will tell the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY To “believe” (Greek pisteuein), one of John’s favorite expressions, does not just mean to hold on to some opinion or truth; it connotes total confidence in Jesus. Its Hebrew equivalent is AMAN which has to do with trustfulness. Jesus is “the AMEN” because he is faithful...
REFLECTIONS TODAY “For God so loved the world, he gave us his only Son, Jesus Christ our Savior, his most precious one”—this line taken from today’s Gospel opens Tell the World of His Love, the official theme song of World Youth Day 1995 in Manila. The song continues to be sung in Masses...
REFLECTIONS TODAY In their conversation, Jesus is addressing not only Nicodemus, but also Judaism which Nicodemus represents. Contrast is made between Jesus and Nicodemus who is a teacher of Israel who teaches people the Torah (Law) which Moses received from God on Mt. Sinai. But Jesus is far...
