BREAD THAT IS BROKEN

“God’s bread comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” —John 6:33

Did you ever fall in love with someone and wonder if they really loved you? You might wonder: Does she really love me for who I am, or only for what I can do for her? Will he love me when I grow old? Will she still love me when the attraction fades away? If you aren’t at your best, and your beloved nevertheless loves you even more, then your heart is filled with joy.

Jesus, “Who dwells in unapproachable light” (1 Tm 6:16), came down from heaven (Jn 6:33). If He desired, He could captivate all humanity with His blinding glory. The Jews asked Him to do so when they requested a glorious sign to prove His worth (Jn 6:30). Yet Jesus “humbled Himself” (Phil 2:8) and took on the form of bread and wine in the Eucharist. Like the lover mentioned above, the Eucharistic Jesus no longer has to wonder who loves Him and who doesn’t. He, Who is King of glory (Ps 24:8), is offered at every Mass in a host which doesn’t look much different than a potato chip. From this vantage point, Jesus can easily see who truly loves Him when He is presented in Eucharistic humility. This love surely brings joy to His heart.

Jesus can also easily see who ignores Him, overlooks Him, and snubs Him. When we refer to the “breaking of the bread,” we could also be speaking of the broken-hearted Eucharistic Jesus, Who daily offers Himself to all, and is daily rejected or ignored by so many. The Eucharist is a real proving ground of our love for Jesus. Jesus asks each of us: “Do you love Me?” (Jn 21:15) Let us make a return of love to Jesus by receiving Him in the Eucharist as often as possible (Ps 116:12-13).

PRAYER: Eucharistic Jesus, make me love Thee more and more.
PROMISE: “No one who comes to Me shall ever be hungry, no one who believes in Me shall ever thirst.” –Jn 6:35
PRAISE: St. Peter Chanel revitalized his parish in three years.