Never Thirst
Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
John 6:30-35 - The crowd said to Jesus: “What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written:
He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”
So Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
So they said to Jesus, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
Last week we discussed how things that happen earlier in the Scriptures point toward Christ’s Death and Resurrection. This is continuously the case with the stories, prayers, prophecies, and promises of the Old Testament. After the Israelites fled from Egypt, the Lord fed them manna, bread from heaven, during their time in the wilderness. This is the story to which the people in the Gospel are referring. They are looking for a similar kind of sign. But their expectations are too low.
Jesus isn’t here to give a sign, but to be the real thing. The sign of manna was meant to signify Him. Jesus isn’t here to give bread from heaven, He’s here to be bread from heaven, the “true bread.” When we receive Jesus in the Eucharist, we are receiving God in a special way that He has been preparing for us since the beginning. We must be more mindful about the great gift of God Himself that we are receiving at Mass. Jesus, the True Bread from heaven gives us life every week (or even every day) at Mass. In prayer, consider what special attention we pay to this mystery, and how we can do more to show our gratitude. Are we willing to stay for a few minutes longer to pray after Mass while Christ is still physically inside of us? Can we spend time attending Adoration, or attend Mass during the week?
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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