Captain William Swenson and his platoon were surrounded on three sides in Afghanistan. Without even thinking, he ran into live fire to rescue wounded soldiers. One of the medics in a medevac helicopter had a GoPro camera on his helmet and captured the whole scene. Captain Swenson brought a soldier with a neck wound, laid him on a stretcher, then bent over and gave him a kiss. Then he turned around to rescue some more. Captain Swenson received the congressional Medal of Honor for his actions on that fateful day of September 8, 2009.

My friend, are you so wounded on this battlefield? Have you lost all hope of fulfilling a dream, finding a lost love, receiving your miracle, or finding God whom you feel is so far because of your sins? 

If human captains are unwilling to lose people they hardly know, Captain Jesus will never abandon you. He is strong and faithful. He will do whatever it takes to bring you home, to your dreams, into His arms. Jon Escoto (jonmaris@yahoo.com) 

reflect

What has wounded your heart lately? A guilt-ridden conscience? Frustrations from unfulfilled expectations? Broken relationships? An unanswered prayer? Call out to Jesus and show Him your wounded heart.

Jesus, I need You. Rescue me and heal me. Amen.

St. Rose Venerini, pray for us.

Stephen’s death is a catalyst for people to discover where they stand regarding the new religion founded in Christ. Many Christians are forced to flee from Jerusalem due to fear of death and so the Christian diaspora begins. The path of the Gospel is set and ready to be taken to the ends of the earth. We are all a part of this work. Let us discern our role and pray for the grace to remain faithful even if we are persecuted for our faith.

¹ There broke out a severe persecution of the Church in Jerusalem, and all were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles. ² Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him. ³ Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the Church; entering house after house and dragging out men and women, he handed them over for imprisonment. ⁴ Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word. ⁵ Thus Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them. ⁶ With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing. ⁷ For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice, came out of many possessed people, and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured. ⁸ There was great joy in that city. 

Responsorial Psalm | Psalm 66:1-3, 4-5, 6-7

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

¹ Shout joyfully to God, all you on earth, ² sing praise to the glory of his name; proclaim his glorious praise. ³ Say to God, “How tremendous are your deeds!” (R) ⁴ “Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you, sing praise to your name!” ⁵ Come and see the works of God, his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam. (R) ⁶ He has changed the sea into dry land; through the river they passed on foot; therefore let us rejoice in him. ⁷ He rules by his might forever. (R) 

Gospel | John 6:35-40

Jesus tells us to rely on Him for spiritual sustenance. He will feed us with what we need, not necessarily what we want. He draws us into a relationship with the Father for us to gain eternal life. Do we believe this? It is crucial that we make a decision about our faith and be consistent with daily prayer and Scripture reading.

Gospel Acclamation

Everyone who believes in the Son has eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day, says the Lord.

³⁵ Jesus said to the crowds, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst. ³⁶ But I told you that although you have seen me, you do not believe. ³⁷ Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, ³⁸ because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. ³⁹ And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day. ⁴⁰ For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.”

Read the Bible in one year! Read DEUTERONOMY 27 - 30 today.

Many people love the eat-all-you-can buffet these days. They find it fascinating that they can eat as much food as they want for a fixed price. The sheer variety of food offered is also an attraction. Buffets usually have something for everyone. 

Jesus, in today’s Gospel, says He is the Bread of Life, the true nourishment that our souls need. In Jesus, we will never be hungry or thirsty if we but come to Him and believe in Him. In the succeeding verses of the chapter, Jesus explains further how He is the “Living Bread” and how His flesh is real food and His blood is real drink. Jesus says, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day” (John 6:54). 

As Catholics, we believe that these words of Jesus refer to the Eucharist and we demonstrate this belief each time we receive Him in Holy Communion. That is also why we call the Holy Communion administered to a dying person or in danger of death as “viaticum,” a provision for a journey.  

“I am the Bread of Life.” These words spoken by Jesus in the sixth chapter of John make us appreciate the lasting gift of Jesus of Himself made available to us. Through the Eucharist, we are also reminded how Jesus continues to sustain, nourish, and strengthen us to be true to what we all have become through Him—God’s beloved children. 

The gift of the Eucharist challenges us to be eucharistic persons ourselves. Saint Augustine once said, “If we receive the Eucharist worthily, we become what we receive.” Even nutritionists today tell us we are what we eat. In receiving communion, we receive Jesus and we have this opportunity to become more like Him. 

Fr. Ricky Montañez, AA

reflection question

When many concerns overwhelm you, do you seek out Jesus and draw strength from Him, His Word, and the very gift of Himself broken and shared in the Eucharist? 

Lord, as You nourish me through the Eucharist, I pray that I may also become more and more a source of nourishment for others. Amen.

Today, I pray for: ________________________________________