SATURDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD (SATWOG JUNE 10TH, 2023) INSPIRING REFLECTIONS OF MEMBERS

LAITY REFLECTIONS FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF CORPUS CHRISTI, YEAR A

First Reading: Deuteronomy 8:2-3;14b-16a
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 147:12-13;14-15;19-20 (R. 12a)
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:16-17
Gospel Acclamation: John 6:51
Gospel: John 6:51-58

Frances Nkamuke

MY REFLECTION

In the gospel reading, Jesus says, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

The Jews listening to Jesus were confused and even offended by his statement because they took the words of Jesus literally and found them very hard to accept. Jesus replied by saying that the words he has spoken are spirit and life.

One way of interpreting the passage is to understand it as a metaphorical or symbolic statement. In this view, Jesus is not literally saying that his followers should eat his physical flesh and drink his physical blood rather, that they should identify with him and his teachings in a deep and profound way. Eating and drinking are often used in the Bible as metaphors for taking in or receiving something, so this interpretation emphasizes the spiritual nourishment that comes from following Jesus.

Regardless of how one interprets the passage, it is clear that it emphasizes the centrality of Jesus as the source of eternal life for those who follow him. Jesus says, "I am the bread of life, he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him”. This statement highlights the idea that faith in Jesus is the key to spiritual fulfillment and eternal salvation.

 

Okolo Ikechukwu

MY REFLECTION

"Prisoner of Love"

My Reflection today tagged "Prisoner of Love" is a summation of all I intend to say, which is: By Prophecy of Isaiah the name "Emmanuel" was revealed and I want to confirm to us that in that name God trapped his Love eternally with men (especially for those who believe); there is no better way to do this but to give us his imperishable inheritance in the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, who not only sacrificed himself but became trapped in the Tabernacle as our Prisoner, where we draw strength to live as free Christians.

Once and for all is the sacrifice but continually is he with us, fulfilling the Prophecy of the name "Emmanuel"- God with us, like the social media trend some weeks back "God does not exit". The Eucharist is a very physical proof that indeed God is with us.

2 Cor. 3:18 tells us what to do: "Constantly beholding Jesus, we are transformed from one glory to another glory". How much to do we appreciate this King trapped in love by paying a visit to the Blessed Sacrament?

This is why many lives lack the transformation and glory they should possess.

Go to Him now and constantly behold Jesus, possess your possessions in Christ Jesus, Amen.

Nzeakor Eugenia

MY REFLECTION

Greetings to you brethren!

My sharing comes from the Gospel: Christ is letting us know today that He is the Bread of Life, the Living Bread and that whoever eats Him will have eternal life.

So many of us always go to Mass but we do not receive Holy Communion due to our ways of life. We have received all the required sacraments in the church, but to avail ourselves the time to go for the Sacrament of reconciliation to be able to receive Christ (Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist) is so difficult for us simply because we find it difficult to leave our ways of life.

We are not complete whenever we go to church without receiving the Holy Eucharist, that's just the truth.

Chika Nwaozuzu

MY REFLECTION

To start with, Jesus was referring to the Holy communion which he instituted as a church rite which also gave birth to the notion of "transubstantiation" where the bread and wine are transformed into the "body and blood of Christ",  which is the center of our worship today. 

Secondly and most importantly also, Jesus was pointing to a mystery at work in redemption, "the mystery of atonement".

Jesus is the bread that came down from heaven and he became the bread of life when he was crucified on the cross of calvary. On the cross, the flesh of Jesus crucified and his blood spilled becomes the sacrifice by which all could look to him and be saved. His crucified flesh would become the real meal that nourished the entire world. He was the Lamb whose death would furnish eternal life to all who would believe. 

Jesus declaring that "Unless you eat the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you meant that, the atonement which he had come to perform on the cross can only save those who would genuinely believe that this one man actually die for the whole people and again to that singular soul that would say "I DO BELIEVE THAT JESUS DIED FOR ME, THERE WOULD BE LIFE".

The blood of Jesus is that fountain that every sinner, including you and I, who plunges into would automatically lose his/her stains of guilt. To believe the words of Jesus is to eat his flesh and drink his blood which eventually leads to eternal life.

May the Lord help us always to eat this flesh and drink this blood through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Igbinazaka Angela

MY REFLECTION

My reflection is from the summary of the three readings talking about the Bread which God fed our fore fathers with in the Old Testament and also gave himself as bread in the New Testament. The gospel reading capped it all as the food and drink that will give us life and not just ordinary life but eternal life and we would not be hungry if we eat from it. 

But how often do we approach this table of sacrifice that has been presented to us by Christ himself?

Even when we approach the table, do we reverence it as it should be?

Do we approach the table with a contrite and humble heart?

How worthy are we to share in this Holy banquet?

Personally, I have fallen victim of the aforementioned rhetorical questions because it has become a normal thing to approach the table of sacrifice anytime I attend mass but it shouldn’t be so. Christ offered me his flesh as food and his blood as drink and it must be respected such that I distance myself from sin and other vices that does not glorify God. 

I should also know that eating of this food and drink makes me one with Christ and I must participate in it for that is the only gateway to eternal life, as I will be raised up on the last day.

Emmanuel Ojo

MY REFLECTION

Begotten by Love United by Bread

God's love for the world was made manifest through the offering of His only and Holy Begotten son for the purpose of reconciling man (His most precious creature - created in His image and likeness) back to Himself. Thanks be to God for the gift of Jesus Christ who made this love-manifested possible by accepting to die for me and you so that we can be bold to say again, "Abba Father, Our Father!"

Today we celebrate the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi).

The easiest way to penetrate any group is disorganizing or disorienting them - as seen in the construction of the tower of Babel; no wonder Jesus prayed for the unity of His true followers and as a way of fostering this prayer request, He gave us His precious Body and Blood through which we are yoked together. Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.