Life Without End
Life in all its forms is precious. Life, too, in all its forms is fragile and
precarious! Life needs nourishment,
sustenance and protection. This is true
of all aspects of human life. We have to
exercise our capacities whether physical, intellectual, moral or spiritual, and
nourish them properly. This is even more
important when it comes to the spiritual life, a life we received in
Baptism. The natural life we have
received from our parents is passing away.
Every minute, every hour brings us closer to the end of life. But we have a new and higher life - one that
will not pass away. While our physical
temporal life is nourished by daily food, our spiritual life needs a different
kind of nourishment! This nourishment is
addressed by Jesus in today’s Gospel.
While telling the people who hoped to find ‘manna’ in the desert – like
their ancestors found – he said: “I am the living bread come down heaven, so
that one may eat it and not die: whoever eats this bread will live forever; and
the bread I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” (John 6:50-51) What a
gift! Jesus would give his life on the
cross for the life of the world. That
offering and Calvary continues in every Mass: “Do this in memory of me.” (Luke 22:19) Jesus in his life teachings,
example, and in his death and resurrection is truly “bread for the world.” This was God’s will that salvation and
liberation would come to us through the total giving and sacrifice of Jesus.
The cross for us is a reminder of God’s love and a
symbol of God’s gift of Jesus to be food for the world, food that would
strengthen us to do God’s will. This is
what Mass and Communion are all about.
God’s will is that we love and serve Him, and love and serve our
neighbor. Holy Communion is our
commitment and strength to do just that.
Throughout history, people who suffered from
famines, persecutions and dangers have always turned to the Eucharist. The promise of Jesus, and the hope that
promise and presence in the Eucharist gives, has indeed strengthened people in
times of changes, toils and fears!
Quote:
Pope John Paul II taught: “The Eucharist is the Sacrament of the presence
of Christ, who gives himself to us because he loves us. He loves each one of us in a unique and
personal way in our practical daily lives: in our families, among our friends,
at study and at work, in rest and relaxation.
He loves us when he fills our days with freshness; and also, when in
times of suffering, he allows trials to weigh upon us, even in the most severe
trials he lets us hear his voice. To
celebrate the Eucharist, ‘to eat his flesh and drink his blood’, means to
accept the wisdom of the cross and the path of service. It means that we signal our willingness to
sacrifice ourselves for others, as Christ has done.”
Saints of the Week
This week we celebrate the feasts of some wonderful
people:
Monday, August 10th: Feast
of St. Lawrence,
Deacon & Martyr (martyred in 258)
Tuesday, August 11th: Feast
of St. Clare
Founded the Poor Clares (1253)
Wednesday, August 12th: Feast of St. Jane Frances DeChantal:
Founded the Visitation Nuns (1641)
Friday, August 14th: Feast
of Maximilian Kolbe
Priest and Martyr (1941)
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On Saturday we celebrate the Feast
of the Assumption at 8:30 AM Mass.