FRIENDS and SERVANTS of the WORD
May 6, 2014
Third Tuesday of Easter
From the Word of the Day
“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me
will never thirst.” (John 6: 35)
How should we live this Word
As usual, the Jews asked Jesus for a sign in order to believe Him. Jesus offered them many signs but they
did not see them; they were not able to see God’s action in the works of Jesus and they continued to ask Him
for a sign. In the history of the Jewish people, there had been a sign from heaven, the manna. They demand
that Jesus give them the ‘bread from heaven’, as their fathers in the desert had it. Jesus responds that this
bread was not really from heaven, but was material food. “It was not Moses who gave the bread from
heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.” The Lord Jesus offered them the true bread
from heaven, “the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world”.
But they perversely continued to disbelieve, to refuse to accept the true bread that was Jesus Himself. In
reality, they wanted a sign according to their personal tastes. The Lord was calling them to faith, to
recognize the prodigies worked by God in the reality of His person, going beyond appearances to discover
that in His words and in His witness, in the gift He made of His life, was the true bread from heaven.
However, even today we see the same attitude. We often run the risk of not valuing the many graces that the
Lord continually gives us. Instead, we focus only on the negative aspects and the difficulties of our life.
Thus we are always inclined to some pessimism and dissatisfaction, and continue to be hungry and thirsty.
Today as I pause for silent contemplation, I will reflect that if my faith is true, I would be in accord with the
Lord Jesus who is constantly with me in His Word, the sacraments, and especially the Eucharist, the true
bread from heaven. I will ardently ask the Risen Jesus the grace of keeping my eyes constantly focused on
God’s goodness and mercy toward me and on all His innumerable gifts that surround me.
Lord, grant that I may see You always in the good gifts You surround me with and in Your constant loving
presence within me. Grant me this joy that satisfies all my hunger and thirst!
The voice of St. Augustine in his Confessions
You have made us for Yourself and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.
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E-mail: srmterzo@gmail.com - Blog: livingscripture.wordpress.com
Fr. Fernando Bergamelli, SDB