In Kung Fu Panda, Po, the “dragon warrior,” experiences rejection and self-doubts on his first exhausting day of training. To escape the pain of the day’s failures, he gobbles all the peaches he can fit into his mouth.

       After quietly observing him, the wise Master Oogway interrupts, “I see you eat when you are upset.”

       I also eat when I am upset. I eat coffee cake, tiramisu or coffee gelato. Or anything sweet. Maybe for you it’s pizza, or lots of rice. After the second serving of cake, however, I still feel upset... and bloated.

         There are days though that I choose to eat something else. I eat the Bread of Life. I line up, receive Him, and return to my pew. I then just utter, “Have Your way in me.” Then I keep my mouth shut. I let Him love me. Before I know it, “the peace that surpasses all understanding” envelopes me. My fears dissolve. My worries crumble. I am full of Life.

       Next time you’re upset, partake of the Bread of Life. It’s not a symbol. It’s not a feeling. It’s Life Himself in all its fullness. Marc Lopez (lamblightschool@yahoo.com)

Reflection:How do you see Holy Communion? As a symbol? Or as our Savior Himself?

Sometimes, we need to follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance even if it means doing something unconventional or out of the ordinary. In today’s reading, Philip baptizes the Ethiopian eunuch in a pond by the roadside, an unusual way of becoming part of the Church. However, Philip believed this was the right thing to do as led by the Spirit.

26 The angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, “Get up and head south on the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert route.” 27 So he got up and set out. Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, that is, the queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury, who had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and was returning home. Seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. 29 The Spirit said to Philip, “Go and join up with that chariot.” 30 Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 He replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him. 32 This was the Scripture passage he was reading: Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he opened not his mouth. 33 In [his] humiliation justice was denied him. Who will tell of his posterity? For his life is taken from the earth. 34 Then the eunuch said to Philip in reply, “I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this? About himself, or about someone else?” 35 Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this Scripture passage, he proclaimed Jesus to him. 36 As they traveled along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, there is water. What is to prevent my being baptized?” [37] 37 38 Then he ordered the chariot to stop, and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and he baptized him. 39 When they came out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away, and the eunuch saw him no more, but continued on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip came to Azotus, and went about proclaiming the good news to all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

R: Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

8 Bless our God, you peoples, loudly sound his praise; 9 He has given life to our souls, and has not let our feet slip. (R) 16 Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare what he has done for me. 17 When I appealed to him in words, praise was on the tip of my tongue. (R) 20 Blessed be God who refused me not my prayer or his kindness! (R)

Today’s Gospel helps us to recognize the difference between eating the “manna in the desert” and eating the “living bread” from Jesus. The food in the desert satisfied the hunger of the body. Jesus, the food from heaven, will satisfy the eternal hunger of our souls.

I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord; whoever eats this bread will live forever.

44 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. 45 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. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; 50 this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. 51 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.”

Read the Bible in one year Deuteronomy 4-7

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: _____________________________________________________

SHARING THE GOOD NEWS WITH

OTHERS

There’s a story about a devout young man who attended Mass every day. On the way to the church, he had to pass by a house where his friends were hanging out. Every time he passed by, they would invite him to drink with them, or watch a movie, or play basketball, and so on. The young man loved the Holy Mass so much that he never let any of his friends’ invitations tempt him from meeting the Lord in the Eucharist. One day, his friends asked him why he went to Mass every day. He said that the Mass was so much more beautiful than drinking or movies or basketball. And they said, “Oh yeah? If your Mass is so beautiful, how come you never invite us?”

       We, too, can be guilty of not sharing with others the treasure of the Holy Eucharist, or of not spreading the Good News of God’s love in the sacrament of Jesus’ Body and Blood. Just like in the First Reading, the Ethiopian eunuch failed to understand the Sacred Scriptures and was led to ask: “How can I come to know Jesus unless someone guides me?”

       Let us not presume that the Good News of salvation will automatically spread itself. We need to lend a hand and spread the Word.

        Yes, let us attend daily Mass if we can or if we wish. But let us not do it only for ourselves. If we can invite or bring along just one — even just one — then our going to Mass reaches a higher level. We have arrived at an appreciation not only of the Eucharist for ourselves; we have shared it with others as well. Fr. Martin Macasaet, SDB

---------- REFLECTION QUESTIONS ----------

Have you already done anything to help spread the Good News? What can you still do?

Let Your Good News continue to penetrate and convince me even more, Lord God. With Your help, I can be Your zealous evangelizer. Inspire me and sustain me. Amen.