God offers his people abundant life, but we can miss it. What is the bread of life which Jesus offers? It is first of all the life of God himself - life which sustains us not only now in this age but also in the age to come. The Rabbis said that the generation in the wilderness have no part in the life to come. In the Book of Numbers it is recorded that the people who refused to brave the dangers of the promised land were condemned to wander in the wilderness until they died. The Rabbis believed that the father who missed the promised land also missed the life to come. God sustained the Israelites in the wilderness with manna from heaven. This bread foreshadowed the true heavenly bread which Jesus would offer his followers.

Jesus is the "bread of life"

Jesus makes a claim only God can make: He is the true bread of heaven that can satisfy the deepest hunger we experience. The manna from heaven prefigured the superabundance of the unique bread of the Eucharist or Lord's Supper which Jesus gave to his disciples on the eve of his sacrifice. The manna in the wilderness sustained the Israelites on their journey to the Promised Land. It could not produce eternal life for the Israelites. The bread which Jesus offers his disciples sustains us not only on our journey to the heavenly paradise, it gives us the abundant supernatural life of God which sustains us for all eternity.

The food that makes us live forever 

When we receive from the Lord's table we unite ourselves to Jesus Christ, who makes us sharers in his body and blood and partakers of his divine life. Ignatius of Antioch (35-107 A.D.) calls it the "one bread that provides the medicine of immortality, the antidote for death, and the food that makes us live for ever in Jesus Christ" ( Ad Eph. 20,2). This supernatural food is healing for both body and soul and strength for our journey heavenward.

Do you hunger for the "bread of life"? 

Jesus offers us the abundant supernatural life of heaven itself - but we can miss it or even refuse it. To refuse Jesus is to refuse eternal life, unending life with the Heavenly Father. To accept Jesus as the bread of heaven is not only life and spiritual nourishment for this world but glory in the world to come. When you approach the Table of the Lord, what do you expect to receive? Healing, pardon, comfort, and rest for your soul? The Lord has much more for us, more than we can ask or imagine. The principal fruit of receiving the Eucharist or Lord's Supper is an intimate union with Christ. As bodily nourishment restores lost strength, so the Eucharist strengthens us in charity and enables us to break with disordered attachments to creatures and to be more firmly rooted in the love of Christ. Do you hunger for the "bread of life"?

Lord Jesus, you are the living bread which sustains me in this life. May I always hunger for the bread which comes from heaven and find in it the nourishment and strength I need to love and serve you wholeheartedly. May I always live in the joy, peace, and unity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, both now and in the age to come.

source: From the desk of Don Schwager, 

hosted by Kairos Europe and the Middle East

This is the Time of the Cross

Our second reading today is, perhaps, the highpoint of Christian literature. Paul tells us that the crucified one is the stumbling block, the absurdity for the unbeliever. But to those who are graced, and gifted with faith, this is the power and wisdom of God.

St. Paul always speaks out of his experience. He has known the heights and the depths of life; he has been on top and cast down. But Paul makes no bones about it, time and time again he says Jesus is the source of his strength. He says, "In Him I have strength for everything." Jesus crucified is the power, the wisdom of God: the cross is the source of Paul's strength.

A professor who taught me the New Testament used to say in his private moments, "It is the cross that leads me to say that, were it not for Jesus, I would be an Atheist. Jesus gives me the only God I can believe in, a God of love that is revealed in suffering." Christianity has a very specific understanding of God.

He is not a God of power, throwing thunderbolts into people's lives, He is not a teddy bear God, He is not an unknown God.

As Christians, we believe that the God we find in the Gospel is, above all, a God of love. A love that is revealed in the suffering of the cross. The cross is central to the Gospel and understanding of God. The cross is not an accident in the life of Jesus, it is not that He happened to be in Jerusalem one day, said something out of turn, rubbed some people the wrong way and got nailed to a piece of wood. No, the cross is an essential aspect of Jesus revealing God to us.

The cross plunges deeply into the reality of God, almost like a dagger, and what it reveals about God is awesome. It tells us that our God is not unaffected by our suffering, not unaffected by our way of life, not unaffected by what happens to us. It tells us that our God loves us so much that He was prepared to become one of us. It tells us that in order to reconcile us to Himself, He was willing to undergo the most painful form of death ever devised.

This is the God who embraces our lives in Jesus of Nazareth. And still we hear people say everyday I do not believe in Him, or His cross. Prove to me that God exists.

Believers should never accept that kind of challenge. It is not that we are unable to answer it; we can show that belief in God is reasonable. First of all, if we want to be correct about it, we can say that God does not exist, existence is a human category of thought, and there is no way we can confine or express the reality of God in human categories. God does not exist, apples exist, oranges exist, we exist. God is.

Whenever we speak of God, we are only half right. God defies capture by words, categories or human thought. You will often hear unbelievers say they believe in the human spirit, and the human spirit is a wonderful thing. However, if history teaches us anything, it should teach us that the human spirit, even the educated, cultured, civilized human spirit has often been responsible for some terrible things. To believe only in humanity, humanity without grace, without God, could be a very frustrating experience.

Others say they believe in a God of nature. This belief is appealing, especially as spring is around the corner, one can almost experience God in the freshness that we are beginning to see. It is God's creation, but it is not God. All that comes to life in the spring will die in the fall.

One of the things that Jesus did supremely well, more than anything else, better than anyone else.... He loved. St. John highlights this on the first page of his passion narrative. When Jesus knew that His hour had come to pass out of the world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end.

Loved them to the utmost limit of love, loved them totally, loved them to death. In the words of St. Paul, "He loved me and gave Himself up for me. Show me a man writhing on a cross in agony and I will be moved to pity, to horror, to disgust. Show me a man writhing on a cross, surrendering His body to crucifixion because He loved me, and I will be drawn to belief. To self‑giving, to love in return."

During this mass we can see in a striking way how the cross and the Eucharist interlock. That breathless moment when time turns back and Calvary comes alive in the words of love ever spoken.... This is My body, which is given up for you. This is My blood, which will be shed for you.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Robert Warren, S.A.

source:email

If anyone eats of this bread, he will live for ever

God offers his people abundant life, but we can miss it. What is the bread of life which Jesus offers? It is first of all the life of God himself - life which sustains us not only now in this age but also in the age to come. The Rabbis said that the generation in the wilderness have no part in the life to come. In the Book of Numbers it is recorded that the people who refused to brave the dangers of the promised land were condemned to wander in the wilderness until they died. The Rabbis believed that the father who missed the promised land also missed the life to come. God sustained the Israelites in the wilderness with manna from heaven. This bread foreshadowed the true heavenly bread which Jesus would offer his followers.

Jesus is the "bread of life"

Jesus makes a claim only God can make: He is the true bread of heaven that can satisfy the deepest hunger we experience. The manna from heaven prefigured the superabundance of the unique bread of the Eucharist or Lord's Supper which Jesus gave to his disciples on the eve of his sacrifice. The manna in the wilderness sustained the Israelites on their journey to the Promised Land. It could not produce eternal life for the Israelites. The bread which Jesus offers his disciples sustains us not only on our journey to the heavenly paradise, it gives us the abundant supernatural life of God which sustains us for all eternity.

The food that makes us live forever

When we receive from the Lord's table we unite ourselves to Jesus Christ, who makes us sharers in his body and blood and partakers of his divine life. Ignatius of Antioch (35-107 A.D.) calls it the "one bread that provides the medicine of immortality, the antidote for death, and the food that makes us live for ever in Jesus Christ" ( Ad Eph. 20,2). This supernatural food is healing for both body and soul and strength for our journey heavenward.

Do you hunger for the "bread of life"?

Jesus offers us the abundant supernatural life of heaven itself - but we can miss it or even refuse it. To refuse Jesus is to refuse eternal life, unending life with the Heavenly Father. To accept Jesus as the bread of heaven is not only life and spiritual nourishment for this world but glory in the world to come. When you approach the Table of the Lord, what do you expect to receive? Healing, pardon, comfort, and rest for your soul? The Lord has much more for us, more than we can ask or imagine. The principal fruit of receiving the Eucharist or Lord's Supper is an intimate union with Christ. As bodily nourishment restores lost strength, so the Eucharist strengthens us in charity and enables us to break with disordered attachments to creatures and to be more firmly rooted in the love of Christ. Do you hunger for the "bread of life"?

Lord Jesus, you are the living bread which sustains me in this life. May I always hunger for the bread which comes from heaven and find in it the nourishment and strength I need to love and serve you wholeheartedly. May I always live in the joy, peace, and unity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, both now and in the age to come.

source: From the desk of Don Schwager, 

hosted by Kairos Europe and the Middle East

Do you hunger for the bread of life?

The Jews had always regarded the manna in the wilderness as the bread of God (Psalm 78:24, Exodus 16:15). There was a strong Rabbinic belief that when the Messiah came he would give manna from heaven. This was the supreme work of Moses. Now the Jewish leaders were demanding that Jesus produce manna from heaven as proof to his claim to be the Messiah. Jesus responds by telling them that it was not Moses who gave the manna, but God. And the manna given to Moses and the people was not the real bread from heaven, but only a symbol of the bread to come.

Jesus then makes the claim which only God can make: I am the bread of life. The bread which Jesus offers is none else than the very life of God. This is the true bread which can truly satisfy the hunger in our hearts. The manna from heaven prefigured the superabundance of the unique bread of the Eucharist or Lord's Supper which Jesus gave to his disciples on the eve of his sacrifice. The manna in the wilderness sustained the Israelites on their journey to the Promised Land. It could not produce eternal life for the Israelites. The bread which Jesus offers his disciples sustains us not only on our journey to the heavenly paradise, it gives us the abundant supernatural life of God which sustains us both now and for all eternity. When we receive from the Lord's table we unite ourselves to Jesus Christ, who makes us sharers in his body and blood and partakers of his divine life. Ignatius of Antioch (35-107 A.D.) calls it the "one bread that provides the medicine of immortality, the antidote for death, and the food that makes us live for ever in Jesus Christ" (Ad Eph. 20,2). This supernatural food is healing for both body and soul and strength for our journey heavenward. Do you hunger for God and for the food which produces everlasting life?

source: Kairos-EME, Don's Daily email

The two dimension of the Holy Eucharist

The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life" (ccc 1324). The Holy Eucharist is not just the what meal at the Last Supper. It actually has to aspect or dimension like a coin which has to sides. The first dimension is 'Meal' dimension (a Sacrament) and the second dimension is the 'Sacrificial' dimension (a Sacrifice). The meal aspect of it reminds of the Last Supper and the sacrificial aspect of reminds us of the passion and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.

Jesus chose the time of Passover to fulfill what he had announced at Capernaum (Christ calls himself the bread of life, come down from heaven, John 6), giving his disciples his Body and his Blood. Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper by taking the bread, He blessed and broke it, and giving it to His apostles, said: "Take and eat; this is My body;" then He took a cup of wine, blessed it, and giving it to them, said: "All of you drink of this; for this is My blood of the new covenant which is being shed for many unto the forgiveness of sins;" finally, He gave His apostles the commission: "Do this in remembrance of Me." 

When Jesus said, "This is My body," the entire substance of the bread was changed into His body and when He said, "This is My blood," the entire substance of the wine was changed into His blood. Jesus by his omnipotence and by His word we truly believe Holy Eucharist is the body and blood of Christ.

The change of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ continues to be made in the Church by Jesus Christ, through the ministry of His priests. Only ordained priests have the power of changing bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ. When they consecrate, they act in the person of Christ, through the power received in the sacrament of Holy Orders.The changing of the entire substance of the bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ upon consecration is called Transubstantiation. The appearances of bread and wine remains after the substance had been changed into body and blood of Christ. Through our bodily eyes we see the bread and wine as it is but through the eyes of faith, we the real presence of the Lord in the consecrated bread and wine.

"That in this sacrament are the true Body of Christ and his true Blood is something that 'cannot be apprehended by the senses,' says St. Thomas, 'but only by faith, which relies on divine authority.' For this reason, in a commentary on Luke 22:19 ('This is my body which is given for you.'), St. Cyril says: 'Do not doubt whether this is true, but rather receive the words of the Savior in faith, for since he is the truth, he cannot lie.'" (ccc 1381)

Our Lord's invitation to us before communion, "Take this and eat it, all of you".

The Lord addresses an invitation to us, urging us to receive him in the sacrament of the Eucharist: "Truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you." (ccc 1384)

Our response to the Lord's invitation, "Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word and my soul will be healed."

O Son of God, bring me into communion today 

with your mystical supper. 

I shall not tell your enemies the secret, 

nor kiss you with Judas' kiss. 

But like the good thief I cry, 

"Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

~ Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom ~

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist

Adoring or honouring the Presence of Christ in Holy Eucharistic Presence of Christ, when we remain "silent in prayer" in His Presence and open ourselves to His Graces which flow from the Blessed Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. Truly in the Holy Eucharist, we experience the divine and spirit of Jesus Christ is always presence through his Body and Blood.

During consecration at Holy Mass, the gifts we offer of bread and wine are transformed (transubstantiated) into the actual Body and Blood of Christ, at the altar. It is the real and actual physical  presence of Jesus Christ during every Holy Eucharist celebration, Benediction and Adoration. Due to these beliefs, the consecrated gifts are given the same adoration and devotion that Christians in traditions accord to Christ himself.

In the process of the solemn exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, a priest removes the sacred host from the tabernacle and places it in the Monstrance on the altar for adoration by the faithful. When Sacred Host is in the Monstrance, the priest does not touch it with his bare hands, but instead, holds it with a humeral veil, a wide band of cloth that covers his shoulders and has pleats on the inside in which he places his hands. Except during Holy Eucharist celebration, Benediction and Adoration, the Holy Sacrament is kept locked in the Tabernacle at all other times. Within churches of these traditions the reserved sacrament serves as a focal point of religious devotion. The faithful may pray in the presence of the Sacrament at the Tabernacle.

There is 2 types of Adoration, 
1. "Perpetual Adoration" is Eucharistic Adoration round the clock (24 hours a day). 
2. "Holy Hour" is Eucharistic Adoration of Reparation which lasts for about an hour.

Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour always dwells in the Blessed Sacrament because of His Infinite love for us!

"Monstrance" is the vessel used by the Roman Catholic, Old Catholic, and Anglican churches to display the consecrated Eucharistic Host, during Eucharistic Adoration or Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.  In Latin the word "monstrare" means "to expose" or "to show".










The Holy Eucharist is perfect sacrifice manifested by the Son of God for each one of us. Jesus Christ descended from Heaven to become our heavenly food, changing the substance of simple elements of bread and wine into His Body and Blood to nourish us with food for our everyday journey that we currently live.

On the Cross, Jesus’ Heart burns in love for us and speaks, “I thirst” (John 19:28, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”) but He does not thirst for mere wine or water. Christ thirsts for us, for every part of our life and nothing less. Son of God thirsts for your true love. He thirsts for you to discover your true freedom in His holiness, your true freedom from every stain of sin, and your true freedom to love authentically! Christ thirsts for you to participate in His great salvific work on earth, by denying yourself as He has done, taking up your Cross of discipleship, and following Him wherever He may lead you, even to mounting the Cross with Him. Jesus thirsts for you to share in the greatest love that is God Himself, through which you are empowered to love your fellow man as He does (John 13:34, Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another).

Jesus desires perfect communion with you, that your heart and His Sacred Heart may be one, as the Father and Son are One. When we find ourselves in true communion with Christ, made possible by Christ’s shedding of Blood in self-sacrifice, we gain that perfect communion with God which gives us entrance into the glorious Kingdom of God with the communion of saints in heaven. As fruit of this love, we realize deeper bonds of communion with each other even now in this life as brothers, true friendships bound by God’s love, brothers in arms whom we need in order to carry out the great apostolic work of our Faith. In the Eucharist, the gift of life that we’ve been given regardless of its trials and battles, is directed towards the reality of heaven of which we already partake.

Prayer ot the Handmaids of the Eucharist

 

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, truly present in the Holy Eucharist, I consecrate my body and soul to be entirely one with Your Heart being sacrificed at every instant on all the altars of the world and giving praise to the Father, pleading for the coming of His Kingdom.

 

Please receive this humble offering of myself. Use me as You will for the glory of the Father and the salvation of souls.

 

Most Holy Mother of God. Never let me be separated from your Divine Son. Please defend and protect me as Your special child. 

 

AMEN.

 

 

 

Blessed are you, Lord

Blessed are you, Lord of all creation
Through your goodness this bread we offer
Fruit of the earth and work of Human hands
It will become the Bread Of Life.

Blessed be God
Blessed be God
Blessed be God Forever (Repeat)


Blessed are you, Lord of all creation
Through your goodness this wine we offer
Fruit of the earth and work of Human hands
It will become the Cup Of Joy.

Blessed be God
Blessed be God
Blessed be God Forever (Repeat)