Saturday, August 7, 2021
Bible Reflections I 08.08.2021- Sunday I Indraya Manna I
Readings
I - I Kings. 19: 4-8
II - Eph. 4: 30-5:2
III - Jh. 6: 41-51
IN THE EUCHARIST IS THE LIFE ETERNAL
In the first reading, God refreshes and rejuvenates the disheartened prophet Elijah by feeding him through an angel to pursue his journey to Horeb, the mount of God. The prophet stood for the truth courageously but fled in fear to save his life. In the second reading, St. Paul exhorts the Christians to be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another as Christ has forgiven, in a nutshell to be imitators of God, as his beloved children. In this way one becomes a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. This is a daring and dauntless venture that demands absolute effort and resoluteness to live by the divine values that is difficult and demanding. Hence, to refresh and rejuvenate the Christian living, God gives His only Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour as food and drink with the assurance of life eternal as we read in the Gospel passage today.
St. Paul in his letter to the Romans says, “do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind’ (Rom. 12:2). This is the challenge of the Eucharist as well, as Jesus says, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (Jh. 13:15).
Being imitators of Christ demands love to hatred, peace to discord, unity to disunity, generosity to avarice, selflessness to selfishness and kindness to arrogance. It for this that we are marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30). Whenever we stand for what is right, noble and truthful, we stand for God earning the vengeance and hatred of the world. As an understanding and empathetic friend, Jesus comes to as food and drink to strengthen, heal, support, encourage, revive and renew our assiduous effort, striving spirit and vanning strength until we reach our home with him in heaven.
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