Acts 8:26-40, Psalm 66, John 6:44-51
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HEAVENLY FOOD
"Your ancestors ate manna in the desert, but they died. This is the Bread
that comes down from heaven for a man to eat and never die." —John 6:49-50
When it comes to food, God provides and man derides. God gave Adam and Eve
all kinds of good food in the garden of Eden (Gn 2:16). Sadly, their
craving to eat beyond what God provided led to mankind's downfall (Gn
3:6).
God then provided miraculous manna to the Israelites when they were
stranded in the desert (Ex 16:14ff). He "furnished them bread from heaven,
ready to hand, untoiled-for, endowed with all delights and conforming to
every taste" (Wis 16:20). The manna even "was blended to whatever flavor
each one wished"! (Wis 16:21) All this revealed God's sweetness toward His
children (Wis 16:21). However, the Israelites in the desert soon wearied
of this miraculous, tasty fare. They were "disgusted with this wretched
food" (Nm 21:5) that God provided. Now they wanted meat, fish, cucumbers,
melons, leeks, onions, and garlic (Nm 11:4-5).
So God once again provided His children with miraculous Bread from heaven.
The infant Jesus came down from heaven and was placed in a manger, which
is a feeding trough. This intimates that Jesus is Food. His "flesh is real
food" (Jn 6:55). To make it unmistakable, Jesus proclaims: "I am the Bread
of Life...I Myself am the Living Bread come down from heaven. If anyone
eats this bread he shall live forever; the bread I will give is My flesh,
for the life of the world" (Jn 6:48, 51). Jesus in the Eucharist is God's
ultimate banquet. Will we reject this heavenly food? Or will we keep quiet
and eat what God provides?
Prayer: Father, may what enters and leaves my mouth be totally under Your
lordship.
Promise: "Philip launched out with this Scripture passage as his starting
point, telling him the good news of Jesus." —Acts 8:35
Praise: Pope St. Pius V lived an exemplary life, both as a 15-year-old
novice and as Pope during the victory of Lepanto.
(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my
permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from April
1, 2009 through May 31, 2009
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of
Cincinnati, October 3, 2008
The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be
free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have
granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or
statements expressed.
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