“…my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” – John 6:32-33
God is the giver of all good things: “…all good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights” (James 1:17). The very best gift–the most perfect gift– God the Father gave us was the gift of His Son: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life” (John 3:16).
In the Bread of Life discourse (John 6:22-71) that we will be praying with at each Sunday Mass throughout August–yes, we’ll be reading a different section from this passage each week!-Jesus unveiled God’s plan to continue giving the world the gift of His Son through the gift of the Holy Eucharist, the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35). Jesus is the Father’s greatest gift to us, and He continually gives us this gift each time we receive the Blessed Sacrament. Jesus promised to be with us always: “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). The Bread of Life is one of the ways that He remains with us.
The Greek word Eucharist means “thanksgiving.” This causes me to reflect on my own disposition in receiving the gift of the Bread of Life and the Cup of Salvation. Are my hands and heart truly open to receiving this gift? Or am I holding on to something else, grasping something different, keeping me from receiving Him fully? Do I ever get complacent upon receiving Holy Communion, just receiving out of habit? What sin is blocking me from fully receiving Jesus’s Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity? How can I repent of this and detach from the things of this world in order to open and unwrap the true gift of Jesus’s Presence?
Abba, Father, giver of all good gifts, thank you–truly, thank you–for the gift of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. The next time I receive Holy Communion, help me to see with the eyes of faith and recognize Christ’s Presence within me. Jesus, thank you for giving us this bread always so we never need to hunger or thirst for You (John 6:34-35).