TUESDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTER - Gospel (Jn 6:30-35) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” (Jn 6:35)

FIRST READING - Acts 7:51—8:1a

A reading from the Book of the Acts of the Apostles

Stephen said to the people, the elders, and the scribes:

“You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears,

you always oppose the Holy Spirit;

you are just like your ancestors.

Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute?

They put to death those who foretold the coming of the righteous one,

whose betrayers and murderers you have now become.

You received the law as transmitted by angels,

but you did not observe it.”

When they heard this, they were infuriated,

and they ground their teeth at him.

But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit,

looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God

and Jesus standing at the right hand of God,

and Stephen said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened

and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

But they cried out in a loud voice,

covered their ears, and rushed upon him together.

They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him.

The witnesses laid down their cloaks

at the feet of a young man named Saul.

As they were stoning Stephen, he called out,

“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice,

“Lord, do not hold this sin against them”;

and when he said this, he fell asleep.

Now Saul was consenting to his execution.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - John 6:30-35

From the Gospel according to John

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.”

TUESDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTER - Gospel (Jn 6:30-35)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

In today's Word of God, God gradually reveals to humanity the identity of Jesus Christ. He is the Only Son of God the Father, who came to earth and became a human being to love, sacrifice, die, and rise again to save humanity. He is life. All who believe in the Only Son of God the Father—who came to earth and became man—will have eternal life.

This is a progressive revelation, in which God the Father gradually makes known to mankind that Jesus Christ is the Only Son of God. He is the life of humanity. Whoever believes in Him, comes to Him, remains in Him, and follows His instructions will receive eternal life. Moreover, God the Father finds every way to reach into the hearts of humanity. He remains with us by allowing us to receive His own Body and Blood.

That is why Jesus Christ told humanity in advance: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” This promise is fulfilled when any person or soul receives His Holy Body and Blood into their soul. They will receive eternal life, on the condition that the person is free from sin, pure, innocent, and cleansed from the stains of the world and the sins of Satan. Only then will they be worthy to be a temple for God to dwell in, worthy to receive Him into their beings.

In today’s Word of God, God the Father invites all of humanity to cleanse their souls, to prepare themselves to receive His Holy Body and Blood, which nourishes them with eternal life. This is the wisdom that humanity must attain: Sell everything to gain the Kingdom of Heaven.

Therefore, abandon the sinful self, greed, anger, ignorance, and purify your soul and body. Receive and consume the Holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. This is the Sacrament of the Eucharist, the sacred food that nourishes both your soul and body on the journey to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Thanks be to God. Amen