Sunday August 4, 2024

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Good News Reflections:
Making scripture meaningful to your daily life
by Terry Modica

Because the Eucharist is Jesus, it can heal us, purify us, and help us become more like Christ himself.

Good News Reflection for:

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 4, 2024

Today’s Prayer:

My Lord: May my love for You move me to search and announce the good news boldly and with perseverance. Thank you Lord, because Your work in me goes beyond my own existence in this world. Amen.

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Powerful Catholic prayers are available on our YouTube channel.

Today’s Readings:

Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15
Ps 78:3-4, 23-25, 54
Ephesians 4:17, 20-24
John 6:24-35
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/080424.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-august-4-2024

Working hard for what matters most

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus says: “Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life.” In other words: In your daily life, work hard to obtain whatever will nourish your soul and sustain you past death into eternity.

Jesus says: “The work God wants you to do is to believe in the one he sent.” Why does he call this “work”?

To fully believe, we must work at getting rid of every doubt and distrust that interferes with our belief in Christ, our trust in his words (including what he inspired in the official teachings of the Church), and our willingness to conform to his way of life.

This work requires (1) identifying our vulnerabilities that make us doubt and distrust, (2) uncovering what we’re afraid will happen if we do trust, and (3) overcoming that fear by gaining a better understanding of the truth. Any fear that interferes with our holiness is always based on something untrue.

Jesus says: “The bread of God, which nourishes your soul, is that which comes down from heaven and gives life.” He’s referring to his presence in the Eucharist, the bread that he provides in every Mass. What do you need to do so that you can be nourished more fully by the Eucharist? Is there something that’s stopping you from receiving the Eucharist? Work hard to remedy that obstacle! It will make a difference to your eternal soul. If you’re sincere about uniting yourself to Christ, he will make possible whatever is needed to clear the way.

Because the Eucharist is Jesus, it can heal us, purify us, and help us become more like Christ himself. However, it takes conscious effort to fully embrace this opportunity. Why would we want to be lazy about that? The benefits of hard work in our faith life will endure for eternity.

NOTE: Pope John Paul II wrote an entire encyclical about this, entitled Ecclesia de Eucharistia (“The Church of the Eucharist”). In it, he tells us that we’re on a journey to heaven and that the presence of Christ in the Eucharist helps us stay on course. Take my easy-to-understand study guide on this important document, My Soul Shall Be Healed @ gnm.org/terry-modica-author/my-soul-shall-be-healed.

Questions for Personal Reflection:
Do you believe you’re going to go to heaven after you die? (If you’re thinking “no, I’m going to purgatory” then the answer is really yes, because purgatory is not a stopping place, it’s a purging place before entering into the fullness of heaven.) What raises doubts in your mind? What in your relationship with Jesus needs more work so that your belief in him will give you confident hope that he is guiding you to heaven?

Questions for Community Faith Sharing:
How has the Eucharist helped you stay on course on your journey to heaven? How has it changed you, purified you? Is it possible that Christ’s true presence in the Eucharist can also help those who are unable to receive communion? How so?

Reflect more on this using our video, “The Eucharistic Experience of Heaven” @ https://gnm-media.org/eucharistic-experience-of-heaven/

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