REFLECTIONS TODAY The crowd and Jesus’ disciples have come to the point of decision: to accept or not that Jesus is the Bread of Life and that his words are “Spirit and life.” Jesus claims to be bread come down from heaven, and that his flesh is food and his blood is drink. This is too much...
REFLECTIONS TODAY “Eating flesh” and “drinking blood” have to be taken figuratively; otherwise, one could be charged of cannibalism. The term “flesh and blood” is a biblical figure of speech for human beings or human life. When Simon Peter confesses Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The Jewish crowd is so focused on Jesus as coming from Nazareth and as the son of Joseph that people refuse to believe in his true origin: from above and sent by the heavenly Father. To believe this, one must have confidence in Jesus as saying the truth; one must also allow...
REFLECTIONS TODAY The dialogue between the crowd and Jesus reaches a new turn. God gave manna to the Israelites in the desert to sustain them in the journey until they reached the land of Canaan. This is the prelude of the greater bread: the bread that has come down from heaven in the person of...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Bread is the stuff of life; it stands for something that sustains physical life. It is frequently used as a metaphor for food in general. Ancient peoples attributed bread to the divinities. They prayed to the gods for a rich harvest to avoid famine in the land. For Israel, the...
REFLECTIONS TODAY After the crowd had eaten of the bread that Jesus multiplied, the people thought, “This is truly the Prophet,” recalling Moses who gave them manna and quail to eat. Though a miracle food, manna was perishable; it melted away the following day (Ex 16:21). Moreover, those who...
REFLECTIONS TODAY 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 startled and...
REFLECTIONS TODAY In biblical tradition, God is in control of all creation and its elements. The Book of Job declares, “He alone stretches out the heavens and treads upon the crests of the sea” (Jb 9:8). Isaiah recalls God’s works thus: “Was it not you who dried up the sea, the waters of...
REFLECTIONS TODAY After reflecting on Baptism that ushers us to life eternal, we now focus on the Eucharist, the Bread of Life, which is presented in chapter six of John. It begins with another “sign”—the multiplication of the loaves and the feeding of five thousand people. Five barley loaves...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Jesus is the image of the invisible God, the Word of God who was with God in the beginning. As the only Son, he is also the Heir; the Father has given everything to him. He has the power to judge and to give life. As he proceeds from the Father, he knows and speaks about heavenly...
REFLECTIONS TODAY Paul writes that the cross — Jesus Christ crucified — is a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles (1 Cor 1:23). Rome imposed crucifixion on traitors, criminals, and delinquent slaves. For the Jews who were waiting for a liberator from God, a crucified Messiah...
REFLECTIONS TODAY In speaking of his being “lifted up,” Jesus recalls an incident during the wanderings of the Israelites in the desert. With their patience worn out by the journey, the people murmured (rebelled) against God and against Moses. In punishment, they were bitten by saraph serpents...
