It is 09th August 2015. 19th Sunday of the Ordinary time. The readings are from 1 Kings 19:4-8; Eph 4:30-5:2 and the Gospel is from John 6:41-51. The first reading describes the physical and spiritual hunger experienced by the prophet Elijah. While the prophet was running away from the soldiers of Queen Jezebel, the Lord gave him food from heaven in order to quench his spiritual thirst and hunger of the Lord. He walked for forty days in order to meet God in the Mount Horeb. It is the food and the encounter with God made him strengthened to continue the prophetic works. In the responsorial Psalm, we read, “Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.” (Ps.34:9). St. Paul in the second reading takes us little deeper into our personal life. Instead of seeking satisfaction in anger, slander, bitterness and malice, we need to nourish one another with compassion, kindness and mutual forgiveness. The Gospel cements the theme of ‘Jesus Christ is the Bread of Life.’ Jesus reveals himself as the true “Bread of Life that came down from heaven,” to offer life to us. Jesus testifies that He is the new and perfect manna, the Son of God came down from Heaven to satisfy our physical and spiritual hunger. The Holy Eucharist is the perfect meal for the soul that believes and accepts the power of God through Jesus Christ. The Eucharist is the one which has become the bone of contention for others yet for us the Eucharist is the fountain and foundation of our spiritual life. We cannot live a perfect and exemplary spiritual life ignoring or sidling the Eucharist. As Jesus is the Bread of Life, so our lives need to become the bread and drink for others. It is the Eucharist that increases our connections with God, and others. May you have a peaceful day.

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