First Reading (Dt 8:2-3, 14-16): God gave manna from heaven to eat and water from the rock to drink, so they could go to the promised land. Today God gives us the Eucharist, on our way to him.
Second Reading (1 Cor 10:16-17): We Christians, says Saint Paul, are one - or should be - as the body of Christ, the Church, because we share together the only Eucharistic body of Christ.
Gospel (Jn 6:51-58): In the Eucharist Jesus is the bread that sustains us and helps us to grow in his life; he is our wine of joy and resurrection.
The Covid 19 pandemic has forced us to remain locked up for a long time. This has made us miss the places of work, study, entertainment, recreation, and of course, also the Christian community to which we belong. Suddenly we could no longer participate in the mass on Sundays, we have stopped receiving the communion of the Body and Blood of Christ, and we miss him. Thank God, the electronic media and social networks have allowed us to continue participating in the masses virtually, but always with the feeling that something is missing: meeting with the brothers, greeting hands, sacramental communion.
Now that we begin to resume our activities, perhaps we can appreciate more the Eucharist, hearing the Word of God, receiving the Sacrament of Communion. For we realize, like the people of Israel, who were walking through the desert, that we need divine food to have strength and continue on the path of life. We need those words of encouragement and God's blessing to walk safely and fearlessly.
Today Jesus tells us again: “I am the living bread that has come down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever. And the bread that I am going to give you is my flesh for the life of the world.”
Comments