WEDNESDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTER - Gospel (John 6:35-40) - 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 8:1b-8

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles

There broke out a severe persecution of the Church in Jerusalem,

and all were scattered

throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria,

except the Apostles.

Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him.

Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the Church;

entering house after house and dragging out men and women,

he handed them over for imprisonment.

Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.

Thus Philip went down to the city of Samaria

and proclaimed the Christ to them.

With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip

when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing.

For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice,

came out of many possessed people,

and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured.

There was great joy in that city.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - John 6:35-40

From the Gospel according to John

Jesus said to the crowds,

"I am the bread of life;

whoever comes to me will never hunger,

and whoever believes in me will never thirst.

But I told you that although you have seen me,

you do not believe.

Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,

and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,

because I came down from heaven not to do my own will

but the will of the one who sent me.

And this is the will of the one who sent me,

that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,

but that I should raise it on the last day.

For this is the will of my Father,

that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him

may have eternal life,

and I shall raise him on the last day."

WEDNESDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTER - Gospel (John 6:35-40)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

Today’s Word of God says to the people:

"I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst."

This Word of Jesus announces to humanity that He is truly present in the Holy Eucharist—the bread broken for all, the spiritual food. Whoever receives Him into their hearts allows Him to reign within them, becoming one with Him and remaining by His side. However, this union requires one condition: the soul must be kept pure, clean, and holy. Then He will dwell within, nourishing both soul and body.

When Jesus reigns in the soul, He protects it from the power of Satan and grants it the fullness of life in the world to come. Everything Jesus came to proclaim on earth came from God Himself. All those whose hearts are being opened by God the Father to receive the words of Jesus Christ will not walk in darkness. For Jesus Christ is the source of life. He came to earth to die and to save humanity from eternal death.

Therefore:

• All who believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God made flesh, and who receive His Body and Blood with a pure and holy soul, will be preserved and protected by Him from eternal death and will be raised up by Him on the last day.

• All who confess Jesus Christ as the Son of God and receive His Body and Blood into their hearts must also keep God's commandments: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

• Live a life of charity and love, as Jesus taught before He ascended into heaven.

Thanks be to God. Amen.

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