Sunday August 18, 2024

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

Being consumed without being destroyed is possible only if we receive from Jesus what others fail to give to us.

Good News Reflection for:

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 18, 2024

Today’s Prayer:

My Lord Jesus: I beg you to never lose sight of the treasure You have left us in Your Body and Your Blood. I beg you that, throughout my life, in joy and in trial, I always choose You as my true food. Amen.

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Today’s Readings:

Proverbs 9:1-6
Ps 34:2-7
Ephesians 5:15-20
John 6:51-58
bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081824.cfm
USCCB Podcast of the Readings:
bible.usccb.org/podcasts/audio/daily-mass-reading-podcast-august-18-2024

Being consumed without being destroyed

In this Sunday’s Gospel reading, we hear the Great Eucharistic Command. Jesus says: “Those who feed on me will have life because of me.” What kind of life? What’s the difference between having his life and the one you were born with?

Jesus gives us his body and blood in every Mass so that we can consume him in his entirety — all of his humanity and all of his divinity. He wants us to be nourished abundantly by his love. He wants us to receive his strength when we endure trials, his healing when we suffer wounds, and most of all, his life, not just when we go to Heaven, but here and now on Earth.

Consuming Jesus should transform us into his likeness. If we truly believe that the Eucharist is the body and blood of Jesus our Savior, then why would we leave Mass unchanged?

By consciously participating in the Penance Rite at the beginning of Mass, actively listening to the readings of the Word of God, sincerely praying with the priest, and trusting in the power of God when we say, “Lord, I am not worthy … but say the word and my soul shall be healed,” and then consuming the Eucharist with humility and awe, we become one with his body and blood.

Now we, too, are his body and blood on earth, ready for others to consume us, or to put it more accurately, giving them the opportunity to be nourished by the True Presence of Jesus within us.

When we give love to others, they receive God’s love. When they fail to return that love, we are being consumed! We are giving more than we’re receiving. Similarly, when we give of our time and talents for the sake of God’s kingdom without being paid or rewarded, we are being Eucharist. We are one in body and blood with Jesus.

Being consumed without being destroyed is possible only if we receive from Jesus what others fail to give to us. This is why the Eucharistic celebration of Mass is our true nourishment. It needs to be the source and the summit of our lives.

Questions for Personal Reflection:
How similar to Jesus are you? What in God’s personality do you need to consume more of so that you can become more like him? Ask for it whenever you go to Mass!

Questions for Community Faith Sharing:
Share the story of a time when you gave more than you received. How was this Christ-like? Why does it mean you were Eucharist for others? How does receiving Jesus during Mass fill us up so that we can continue giving without being depleted?

Reflect further about this issue with our WordByte called: “Why is Mass the best way to progress in the spiritual life?” @ https://wordbytes.org/faqs/mass-best-way-to-progress/.

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