The following reflection is courtesy of Don Schwager (c) 2014, whose website is located at dailyscripture.net Meditation: Why did Jesus offer himself as food and drink? The Jews were scandalized and the disciples were divided when Jesus said unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you have no life in you. What a hard saying, unless you understand who Jesus is and why he calls himself the bread of life. The miracle of the multiplication of the loaves (John 6:3-13), when Jesus said the blessing, broke and distributed the loaves through his disciples to feed the multitude, is a sign that prefigured the superabundance of the unique bread of the Eucharist, or Lords Supper. The Gospel of John has no account of the Last Supper meal (just the foot washing ceremony and Jesus farewell discourse). Instead, John quotes extensively from Jesus teaching on the bread of life. In the Old Covenant bread and wine were offered in a thanksgiving sacrifice as a sign of grateful acknowledgment to the Creator as the giver and sustainer of life. Melchizedek, who was both a priest and king (Genesis 14:18; Hebrews 7:1-4), offered a sacrifice of bread and wine. His offering prefigured the offering made by Jesus, our high priest and king (Hebrews 7:26; 9:11; 10:12). The remembrance of the manna in the wilderness recalled to the people of Israel that they live - not by earthly bread alone - but by the bread of the Word of God (Deuteronomy 8:3). At the last supper when Jesus blessed the cup of wine, he gave it to his disciples saying, Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins (Matthew 26:28). Jesus was pointing to the sacrifice he was about to make on the cross, when he would shed his blood for us - thus pouring himself out and giving himself to us - as an atoning sacrifice for our sins and the sins of the world. His death on the cross fulfilled the sacrifice of the paschal (passover) lamb whose blood spared the Israelites from death in Egypt. Paul the Apostle tells us that Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed (1 Corinthians5:7). Paul echoes the words of John the Baptist who called Jesus the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29). Jesus made himself an offering and sacrifice, a gift that was truly pleasing to the Father. He offered himself without blemish to God (Hebrews 9:14) and gave himself as a sacrifice to God (Ephesians 5:2). Jesus chose the time of the Jewish Feast of Passover to fulfill what he had announced at Capernaum - giving his disciples his body and his blood as the true bread of heaven. Jesus passing over to his Father by his death and resurrection - the new passover - is anticipated in the Last Supper and celebrated in the Eucharist or Lords Supper, which fulfills the Jewish Passover and anticipates the final Passover of the church in the glory of Gods kingdom. When the Lord Jesus commands his disciples to eat his flesh and drink his blood, he invites us to take his life into the very center of our being. That life which he offers is the very life of God himself. Do you hunger for the bread of life? Lord Jesus, you nourish and sustain us with your very own presence and life-giving word. You are the bread of life - the heavenly food that sustains us now and that produces everlasting life within us. May I always hunger for you and be satisfied in you alone. The following reflection is courtesy of Presentation Ministries (c) 2014. Their website is located at presentationministries COMMUNION DISTRIBUTORS Is not the bread we break a sharing in the body of Christ? 1 Corinthians 10:16 This book, One Bread, One Body, is intended to motivate us to celebrate Mass and receive Holy Communion daily, or as often as possible. Therefore, the feast of Corpus Christi is of special significance for us. We pray that everyone who has ever read this book is totally committed to Jesus and in a deep communion with Him. Then it would be normal to express this communion in the way Jesus taught us at the Last Supper. As we do this in memory of Him (1 Cor 11:24), we grow into deeper communion with Jesus. Through Jesus, we have communion with the Father and in the Spirit. We are also in communion with all those who receive Holy Communion. We, many though we are, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf (1 Cor 10:17). If we could receive and give communion in the deepest sense of the word, our communions would be catalysts to change the world. Nations would be united. Denominations would crumble, and all Christians would be one as Jesus and the Father are one (Jn 17:21). We would see deep unity within church congregations instead of pettiness and jealousies. Marriages and families would be one in mind and heart. The whole world would be radically and quickly changed into the image and likeness of God if we received and distributed communion in the deepest and fullest way. Prayer: Jesus, give me a desire to receive You daily in Holy Communion. Promise: For My flesh is real food and My blood real drink. The man who feeds on My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me, and I in him. Jn 6:55-56 Praise: O body of Christ! O blood of the Lord! (For a related teaching, order our tape Eucharistic Obedience on audio or video .) Rescript: In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant my permission to publish One Bread, One Body covering the period from June 1, 2014 through July 31, 2014. Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, January 2, 2014. The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or statements
Posted on: Sat, 21 Jun 2014 21:32:17 +0000
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