The Bread of Life

Gospel Reflection
The Bread of Life
By: Josie Gonzalez

If you read the gospel over and over again, the Lord Jesus has but one message, that He is “true food and true drink” that nourishes the body and soul. Yes, while the pandesal and coffee or water fill our stomach and quenches our thirst, it is only good for a few hours, and hunger sets in again. But Jesus invites us to eat at the table with Him to enjoy eternal life.

As Catholic, do you hear mass every day? Are you a daily communicant? We need to pause a bit and ask ourselves how this can now be possible with ongoing social restrictions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. This health crisis has turned the world upside down, the Philippines included and has greatly affected the millions of us who either begin the day or end the day, by going to church to hear mass and accept the Lord’s invitation to a great meal. Hearing mass is a personal connection to the Almighty God as we worship, glorify, and give thanks to Him.

Today, what options do we have so we may continue to partake of the flesh and blood of the Lord Jesus? During this critical time where we are experiencing all kinds of stresses from emotional to mental to physical and financial, brought about by joblessness, sickness, “COVID deaths” of loved ones, panic and fear from prolonged lockdown, we need to be spiritually strong to remain sane. But how?

Is hearing mass on television or online fulfillment of church obligation? How then do we receive the Holy Eucharist? Unlike the Pharisees and the scribes during the time of Jesus, being overly legalistic is not the Lord’s teaching but to follow the law from the heart; thus, not the letter of the law but the spirit of the law.

Every day, I try to catch the 8 am Mass on the METRO channel or the TV MARIA 12:15 noon mass. It is spiritual communion with the Lord since I cannot receive Him in the Holy Eucharist. In my heart, I feel His presence and His great love.

In last Thursday’s celebration of the holy mass, the responsorial psalm talks about the Lord revealing to the nations His saving power – a bloody death to redeem mankind. So, metaphorically, when we eat His flesh and drink His blood, the Lord is reminding us that He had to suffer and die because of His great love for us.

The “new normal” has dramatically changed the world, rich and poor alike, the black and the white, the educated and unschooled, commuters and chauffeur-driven, leaders, professionals, the labor force, the salaried and “no work no pay” people, businesses and medical centers, first world, third world and everything else. The “new normal” means wearing a face mask, social distancing, hand washing, alcohol, and alcogel. The “new normal” means to grab deliveries and online purchases. But the Almighty God is ever-present providing us with all that is good. The “new normal” should not affect our faith in the Lord. Our hearts should remain open to “eat His flesh and drink His blood”.

Yes, our hearts and minds should remain open to Jesus, the Bread of Life. “Eat His flesh and drink His blood” by hearing mass on television and Youtube, pray the 4 mysteries of the Holy Rosary, listen to Cardinal Tagle’s “The Word Exposed”, tune in to EWTN and TV MARIA, play spiritual songs. Let the “new normal” transform us from our old selves of selfishness, greed, envy, deceit, pride to spiritually better persons who care, love, and share with those who have less in life. Care for the environment too. My “new normal” is a daily spiritual communion with the Lord when I meditate in my garden planted with ornamentals and veggies, look at the sky, the clouds, and the birds and the bees. Know what? I just saw a beautiful red DRAGONFLY circling my garden. Truly, it is my happy place with my Creator! What’s yours?

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