Daily Reflection | Gospel Reading | RVA

Gospel: John 6:30-35
They then said, “Show us miraculous signs, that we may see and believe you. What sign do you perform? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert; as Scripture says: They were given bread from heaven to eat.”Jesus then said to them, “Truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven. My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. The bread God gives is the One who comes from heaven and gives life to the world.” And they said to him, “Give us this bread always.”Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall never be hungry, and whoever believes in me shall never be thirsty.

Reflections

“They were given bread from heaven to eat.”Jesus is given a hard time by his opponents. Before they come to believe in him, he must first perform a miracle for them, not just one miracle but many. They demand many signs. They are not really interested. Nothing will be enough for them.The story is written for us believers to deepen our belief in Jesus. He is the bread of life. Bread in Hebrew is lehem which also means food. Jesus is the source of our nourishment. Like the manna in the desert that comes from the Father in heaven, he, too, comes down from heaven, sent by the Father. While some- thing tangible is involved for it passes through our mouths, Jesus offers much more.The liturgists guide us to recognize the food as none other than Jesus when we participate in the Holy Eucharist. Jesus comes to us in his word and sacrament. To live fully as Christians, we need to listen to his words in the Liturgy of the Word and then partake in the Holy Communion. There is no better way to be nourished than this. Full participation in the Eucharistic celebration is the full expression of our faith in Jesus.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: John 6:22-29
Next day, the people, who had stayed on the other side, realized that only one boat had been there, and that Jesus had not entered it with his disciples; but rather, the disciples had gone away alone. Other boats from Tiberias landed near the place where all these people had eaten the bread. When they saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, “Master, when did you come here?”Jesus answered, “Truly, I say to you, you look for me, not because of the signs which you have seen, but because you ate bread and were satisfied. Work then, not for perishable food, but for the lasting food which gives eternal life. The Sonof Man will give it to you, for he is the one on whom the Father has put his mark.”Then the Jews asked him, “What shall we do? What are the works that God wants us to do?” And Jesus answered them, “The work God wants is this: that you believe in the One whom God has sent.”

Reflections

“Believe in the One whom God has sent.”Many people look for Jesus. He fed them the other day. When Jesus sees them coming again at Capernaum, he asks them to purify their motives. They should not be looking from him food to eat. That is not his main business, but to believe in him. They should level up their priorities. God has proven that he takes care of their material needs. Now the people should recognize that God wants them also to avail of the spiritual food he is offering, which is imperishable.This food is none other than believing that Jesus is God-sent to nourish them. If they do not accept Jesus in their lives, they will remain on the lower and material level forever. Jesus wants them to experience fullness of life with God.Many of us get stuck with mate- rial benefits for joining groups with their charismatic leaders promising us material benefits. We are not aware that if we fall into their scheme, they got richer. We benefit a little.Jesus wants religion to be focused on our relationship with Jesus and with God, not on the tangible material benefits. Religion that does not deepen our spiritual life is a false religion.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: John 21:1-19
After this, Jesus revealed himself to the disciples by the Lake of Tiberias. He appeared to them in this way: Simon Peter, Thomas who was called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee and two other disciples were together; and Simon Peter said to them, “I’m going fishing.” They replied, “We will come with you.” And they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.When the sun came up, Jesus was standing on the shore, but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus called out, “Friends, have you anything to eat?” They answered, “Nothing.” Then he said to them, “Throw the net on the right side of the boat and you will find something.” When they had lowered the net, they were not able to pull itin because of the great number of fish.

Lectio Divina

READ: Jesus appears to his disciples, and invites them to go fishing with him. They go with him and catch a lot of fish. Then Jesus invites them to eat breakfast with him who seem to be strange to them after his resurrection. Jesus then asks Peter if he loves him more than anyone or anything else.

REFLECT: What is your answer if Jesus asks you the same questions? Can you truly say you totally love him? You can say it with honesty and humility if you have been actually following Jesus in his journey, in our case, in the gospel. Hence, you should be familiar with the gospel and make relevant conclusions.

PRAY: Lord, give me an en- lightened heart and mind, that I may follow and love you truly. I know you want the best of me, the whole of me, without reservation. You know I am weak and sinful, but you still ask me to express my love for you in public, in the church and in the family.

ACT: Familiarize yourself with the biblical passages. Give time to reflect and to be touched by its message. Go out and give witness.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2019

Gospel: John 6:16-21
When evening came, the disciples went down to the shore. After a while, they got into a boat to make for Capernaum on the other side of the sea, for it was now dark and Jesus had not yet come to them. But the sea was getting rough because a strong wind was blowing.They had rowed about three or four miles, when they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and he was drawing near to the boat. They were frightened, but he said to them, “It is I! Don’t be afraid!”They wanted to take him into the boat, but immediately, the boat was at the shore to which they were going.

Reflections

“Don’t be afraid!”The disciples go ahead of Jesus even as they see the sea is getting rough. They are facing a danger. Not only that, it is becoming dark. They decide by themselves to go ahead. Jesus is still praying some- where. He has just finished feeding the crowd and dismissed them.As they make a little progress, while they negotiate in the dark, their boat battered by waves caused by the strong wind, they notice someone walking towards them. They find it more terrifying. Jesus immediately assures them, it is he. They should not be afraid. Without knowing it, they reach their destiny, Capernaum, their mission headquarters. Jesus catches up with them.Journey can be rough when Jesus is absent. Yet when he makes his presence felt and we take his words, “Don’t be afraid,” we are sure we will be out of danger. Our fear increases when we mistake Jesus for a ghost, someone who terrifies us rather than help us get out of the situation. Jesus assures us of his saving presence even if we misidentify him. He understands our frailties. Jesus does not make a harsh remark as in other gospels that record, “Where is your faith?”
© Copyright Bible Diary 2019