https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060726.cfm
Remembering Jesus for Real
Think about it. Jesus took bread and wine at the Last Supper and said, “This is My Body given for you. This is My Blood poured out for you.” Every weekend, we gather as the Lord still offers His Body and Blood so we can share His life.
God wants His people to remember His love. He told Moses, “Do not forget the LORD, your God, who brought you out of Egypt, the land of slavery; who provided water from the rock and manna in the desert.”
Consider how Jesus spent his ministry satisfying hunger with bread. He understands our appetite and provides the Living Bread from heaven, which comes down every time we celebrate the Holy Mass.
The amazing thing is, we become what we eat—the Bread of Life for many people. Through Moses, God fed the people in the desert. Who are the people waiting to have their physical hunger satisfied by us?
Many members of our parish are graciously contributing in various ways. Some of us give to the Catholic Ministry Appeal. In contrast, others help feed the wonderful people at Pinellas Hope every Friday. And so many of you generously support our bake sales and fundraisers, helping to feed hundreds of hungry children in Venezuela. Your kindness truly makes a difference!
You are the Living Bread from heaven for starving people whom Jesus is nourishing through you.
To the leper whose body was falling apart, Jesus knew the only bread that mattered to him was the bread of physical healing. Every time we go to Holy Communion, we receive this Living Bread who visits the sick, sends get-well cards, cooks the meal, and cleans the house for anyone who cannot manage independently because of illness. Your contributions also pay for medical procedures, so children in Venezuela will not have to have amputations of their hands and feet. You are the Living Bread for them.
To the woman at Jacob’s well, who had five husbands and lived with a man not her husband, Jesus offered her kindness and acceptance. He knew she went to the well at noon alone because her town disowned her.
If the altar elements are just bread and wine, we’re not challenged to change from self-centered living. We can attend Mass, go about our lives, and return weekly without becoming another Christ for others.
Gospel Challenge:
However, we believe in the Real Presence of Jesus. All the divine and human qualities that make him fully human and divine remain present after the consecration. Through the priest, he declares, “THIS IS MY BODY… THIS IS MY BLOOD.” At the conclusion of Mass, Jesus sends us out as tabernacles for the world to feed on.
For a world hungry for God, we become what we eat, the Body of Christ.
So, to dig a little deeper into this mystery, who is your Living Bread?
Love Your Neighbor!
Fr. Rick Pilger, IC
