THE GREATEST MIRACLE

“I am the bread of life.” – John 6:35

The first and greatest Eucharistic miracle of the Catholic Church took place in Lanciano, Italy during the eighth century.

One morning, a Basilian monk, who doubted the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, celebrated Mass as he would normally do. After he said the prayers during the consecration of the bread and wine, his hands trembled. He was stunned that the bread was transformed into real flesh and the wine turned into blood! He informed the Mass goers who rushed to the altar. Having witnessed a miracle, they knelt down to thank God for the great gift given to them.

Admittedly, I ask a lot from God when I pray. In fact, I comfort myself with the thought that God will soon make a miracle in my life.

But today, as I reflect on the Eucharistic miracle at Lanciano, I realized that God has given me the greatest miracle of all—the love of the Father made flesh in Jesus. The Body of Jesus nourishes me in every Mass celebrated. The Blood of Jesus cleanses me. Thank You, Lord. Marisa Aguas (jojangaguas@yahoo.com)

Reflect: Do you believe in miracles? Look around you and see that miracles surround you.

Lord Jesus, satisfy our hunger and thirst in life. Cleanse us from our sins.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

I am the bread of life, says the Lord; whoever comes to me will never hunger.

John 6:30-35

30 The crowd said to Jesus: “What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do? 31 Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 32 So Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 So they said to Jesus, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”

think: How has the Bread of life nourished your spiritual journey?

Read the Bible in one year 1 Samuel 29-31

thank You, Lord, for: __________________ 

BEYOND SATISFACTION

Together with water, food is one of the most basic, primordial needs of man. Without it, he dies.

The people in the Gospel today expressed this when they asked Jesus whether, like Moses, He could give them provisions to sustain their everyday needs (see vv. 30-31).

Though they were clearly speaking on the superficial level, Jesus did not dismiss their shallowness, for He understands that hunger is a natural fear of every man and woman. But Jesus did invite them to raise their hunger for bread that He alone can give. Alluding to the Eucharist that later on He will leave as a sacrament of His pervading presence, Jesus spoke of a true bread from heaven that will give life to the world (see v. 33).

Desirous, if not curious of such bread, they petitioned Jesus saying, “Sir, give us this bread always” (v. 34). In response to their petition, Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty” (v. 35).

The good news is, they — and we today — need not beg Jesus to be given such bread. It was, and is, the very desire of Jesus to give us this bread — always. When He left us the Lord’s Prayer as pattern for all our prayers, He included the petition, “Give us this day our daily bread.”

Without going into technicalities of the Greek language, the word Jesus used for bread in the Lord’s Prayer suggested a “super bread,” a bread whose substance is above and beyond regular bread. More than our daily provision, Jesus wants to give us eternal satisfaction. Fr. Joel O. Jason

REFLECTION QUESTION

When you pray the Lord’s Prayer today, or if you are at Mass, expand your desires and open your heart to this “super bread,” and be satisfied beyond satisfaction.

Give us this day our daily bread, Lord. Amen.
Today, I pray for: ________________________________________