19^th Sunday in Ordinary Time-B

I Reading: 1Kings 19:4-8: “Lord,” Elijah said, “I have had enough. Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”

II Reading: Ephesians 4:30-5:2: Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God…Never have grudges against others, or lose your temper or raise your voice to anybody…Be friends with one another and kind, forgiving each other as readily as God forgave you in Christ. Imitate God that He loves you and follow Christ by loving as He loved you, place as a fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God.

Gospel: John 6: 41-51: Jesus said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”

God has been kind to speak to human beings: He spoke first to the Patriarchs, through prophets, through many and various ways and finally through Jesus Christ revealed to us his Father’s love and his plans to save us (Heb 1:1).

God continues to speak to us whenever we read the Scriptures or listen to God’s Word being explained to us.

We should listen to God’s Word with a humble and grateful heart; Jesus is the Word of God(John 1:1f) becomes our spiritual nourishment. God’s Word is creative, alive and active always as our spiritual food. There is nothing more pleasing to God than a family gathering daily prayer and listening to the Word of God or reading the Scriptures where God speaks to us. The Holy Spirit helps us to understand God’s Word(Jn 14:26). We must be fed with God’s Word daily to know Him, love Him, and understand His plan in our lives.

The Way a Person Partakes of the Bread of Life, Jn 6:41-51

How can a person partake in the Bread of Life? How does a person come to know Jesus personally? Let us focus on this passage.

1. The religionists rebelled against the claims of Jesus (v. 41-43)

          a) They questioned Jesus’ origin

          b) They misunderstood the incarnation

          c) Jesus appealed: stop grumbling

2. A person must be drawn by God (v. 44-46)

          a) The result: He/she will be raised up at the last day

          b) He/she must be taught by God

          c) He/she must hear and learn from Christ

                    1) Because no one has seen God

                    2) Because Christ is from God and has seen God

3. A person must believe in Christ (v. 47-51)

          a) Believe He is the Bread of Life

          b) Believe He has come down from heaven to deliver humankind from sin and death

          c) Believe He is the living bread-the One who gives life to all forever

          d) Believe He gives His flesh for the life of the world

Thought: A person must open his or her heart and mind to listen to God’s Word to understand His plan or will.

www.believeinthegoodnews.blogspot.com