“I am the bread of life….I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world” (John 6:48, 51).

Bread is a basic staple of life. It is no wonder that Jesus would choose bread and wine to be the elements he would change in substance to be his own Body and Blood to communicate a share of his own divine life with us. What a marvelous mystery of divine love!

God sustained the Israelites for 40 years in the desert with manna, bread from heaven. Jesus sustains us with himself, the bread of life, so that we may live eternally with him. Reflect on this mystery of love and life as you prepare to receive Jesus, the Bread of life this Sunday.