The Bread of Life

08-08-2021Weekly ReflectionFr. James Aboyi, V.C.

We live in a society where many people crave longevity, but at the same time, are afraid of any sign of old age. We are bombarded each day with advertisements about how to lose weight and achieve the so-called ideal body shape; many people put so much eff ort into new forms of diet and exercise to stay healthy and strong, or spend large amounts of money on plastic surgery and anti-aging products in an attempt to remain looking youthful. Many scientists are embarking on advanced research to fi nd diet formulas and genetic modifications that will enable people to live up to 200 years or more. While all these may appear as vanity, they seem to me more like a demonstration of our inner longing as humans for eternal life. No matter the scientific advancement and human achievement, we cannot attain eternal life by human eff ort alone. Only God can give us eternal life.

Although physical food nourishes and keeps us alive, God has placed an even deeper, ardent hunger for the Bread of Life (Eucharist) within our souls to sustain us and bring us unto eternal life. In our First Reading today, we are told the Angel provided a prefigurement of the Bread of Life to the Prophet Elijah and urged him to eat for the long journey. Elijah ate and was strengthened on his journey for forty days and nights until he was taken up into heaven. This event reminds us of the Church’s tradition of Viaࢼ cum (meaning, food for the journey), the last Eucharist a dying person receives before leaving this world.

This weekend is the third of the five weekends with the Gospel focusing on the theme of the Bread of Life. We are reminded during the Liturgy today that the whole of our life is a journey through this world into eternity. We need the Bread of Life to sustain us and keep us alive along our journey. Jesus provides this food for us free-of-charge for everyone, rich or poor. We are blessed to live at a time and place where we can receive Jesus Christ in the Eucharist daily. As Jesus said to His disciples, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. For I say to you, many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it” (Luke 10:23-24). Let us not take for granted the opportunity and the freedom to attend daily Mass and to participate in the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Jesus invites us to come to Him so that He will satisfy our hunger and fulfill all that our heart desires for us.

BACK TO LIST