Need of Living Bread for Eternal Life

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season: Nineteenth Week : Sunday*

*Gospel : Jn 6:41-51*

*First Reading : 1 Kgs 19:4-8*

*Responsorial Psalm : Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9*

*Second Reading - Eph 4:30-5:2*

*Need of Living Bread for Eternal Life*

*1) Hunger is a reality*

One of the things which we experience in our day today life is Hunger 

No one can deny the reality of Hunger. It is an existential reality 

Neither one is able to postpone the reality of Hunger. There are many things in our life which we can postpone, but not the Hunger 

The main activities of our life, or of the daily work is mainly centred around gathering some food for our survival 

So hunger is a reality which no one can deny 

*2) The Spiritual Hunger*

As we experience the physical hunger, there is also another form of hunger which we call it as the spiritual hunger 

All of us experience this hunger in our life at one point of our life 

We believe that we have soul, which needs to be fed with the spiritual food for the  survival of Spiritual life 

No one can deny this hunger. So spiritual hunger is also a reality which we need to pay attention 

*3) Jesus on Spiritual Hunger and Spiritual food*

In today's Gospel Jesus speaks about the spiritual hunger and the Spiritual food

This spiritual food can be offered only by the one who has come from heaven 

Jesus is the only one who has come down from heaven and only He can give this spiritual food which sustains us spiritually for eternal life 

*4) Eucharistic Spiritual Food*

The spiritual food which Jesus offers to us is nothing other than His own body and Blood, which he has offered on the cross, at mount Calvary

The Eucharist is the way through which we are given the body and blood of Jesus 

Through the form of bread and wine we receive the body and blood of Jesus 

Therefore there is no other greater way to receive the body and blood of Jesus than Eucharist 

*5) Other forms of Spiritual food*

Apart from Eucharist we also have other ways through which we can receive the body and blood of Jesus or the Spiritual food 

The sacrament of reconciliation

The reading of the word of God and meditating it 

Spending time in prayer, especially in personal prayer 

Spending time in the service of the needy

Doing some good works for the betterment of the other 

Doing little sacrifices for the greater glory of God 

All these activities nourishes our soul and spiritually we become very strong 

*6) The disaster of Eternal Death*

Without food, bodily death is certain 

Without spiritual food the death of the soul is certain 

The death of the soul is the greatest disaster that can happen in ones life 

The eternal death would be the worst think that can happen to any one 

Therefore, feeding the soul, with Spiritual food should be the priority of our life 

There is nothing which can substitute the food for the soul other than the Eucharist and good works 

Have I realised the importance of feeding the soul in my life 

At the end of our life, only the spiritual food that counts 

At the end of our life only the life of soul counts. 

We need to be very careful about the Devil and Sin which continuously work for the death of the Soul

How do I take care of my Soul???

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*