Breads

Today’s Gospel Text:  Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me; and him who comes to me I will not cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me; 39 and this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up at the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:35-40

Reflection: I am often fascinated by the types of bread that are available in the market place.

There could be plain bread or sliced loaf or designed bread or spiced up breads or sweetened bread or diet bread or hand bread or bread made from flours of various grains or bread that are specifically fortified with vitamins or there are the many stuffed varieties, etc., etc.,

It is the basic ingredient of every meal and no meal seems complete without bread. 

In the gospel passage we have Jesus positioning himself as the Bread of Life.

But isn’t it the quality of all breads to give life; for we can’t survive without eating and eat we must in order to survive.  

Hence the bread winner is such an important member of the family that apart from him the dependents would almost be on the streets begging for their daily food.

True, it is the quality of bread to give life but when Jesus claims that he is the Bread of Life, he is claiming life and life and even life eternal, which any bread of this world cannot and never can provide except Jesus.

One of the qualities of this bread that Jesus will give is that we will not hunger for eternal life anymore, not because it will quench our desire for it; a desire in every human heart, but instead it will satisfy this desire for the eternal life.

Each one who has found it will assert in their hearts that they have found the source of eternal life and shall eat and be satisfied.

Whereas, while Adam ate of the fruit for the same purpose, so as too desire the eternity of God but Jesus gives of himself on the tree of life (cross) so that we may live in the very life of God eternal.

Prayer:  Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, the son of man whom thou hast made strong for thyself! Then we will never turn back from thee; give us life, and we will call on thy name! Restore us, O Lord God of hosts! Let thy face shine, that we may be saved! Ps 80:17-19

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Fishers of Men

Today’s Gospel Text: While the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennes'aret. 2 And he saw two boats by the lake; but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had ceased speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch." 5 And Simon answered, "Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets." 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking, 7 they beckoned to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." 9 For he was astonished, and all that were with him, at the catch of fish which they had taken; 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zeb'edee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; henceforth you will be catching men." 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him. Luke 5:1-11

Reflection: To those who love it, fishes makes a great meal, whether fried or stewed, with spices or without it.

Fish is a healthy diet recommended by many and helps supply much of our body’s need for healthy protein, fat and vitamins.

Fishing is one of the oldest trades known to man and the process is tedious and interesting.  There are times when even the best fishermen comes away disappointed with their labour.

You are up against an invisible food, hidden in the deep waters and a variety that leaves you with very little choice.

To catch a large shoal of fish one needs to be equipped with a net and go into the deep in a boat, even looking at tell tale signs to lower the net in the right place.

Patience and perseverance, trusting in divine providence along with the human experience can play a big role in fishing.

When Jesus invites them to follow him with a mandate to make them fishers of men he proves it to them that he is a better fisherman than these traditional and experienced  fishermen, who confess that they have not succeeded in gathering anything in this venture that day.

With the mandate to be fishers of men, they will be trained in the school of Jesus, how to trust in divine providence and to learn from his word.

What is required of them is to be equipped with the net of the word of God and trust in his providence; an active listening to the word from the mouth of the Lord, so as to cast the net in the right place and at the right time.

Prayer: Lord, prepare my heart and mind for the great task of being your fisher of men and for which you have called me to.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Privilege

(Apology: Due to computer failure couldn't post the articles on time. Kindly bear up with me)  
Today’s Gospel Text: When one of those who sat at table with him heard this, he said to him, "Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!" 16 But he said to him, "A man once gave a great banquet, and invited many; 17 and at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, 'Come; for all is now ready.' 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, 'I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it; I pray you, have me excused.' 19 And another said, 'I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them; I pray you, have me excused.' 20 And another said, 'I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.' 21 So the servant came and reported this to his master. Then the householder in anger said to his servant, 'Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and maimed and blind and lame.' 22 And the servant said, 'Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.' 23 And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.'" Luke 14:15-24

Reflection: "Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!"

Indeed blessed is the man who shall eat bread in the kingdom of heaven; for it is no ordinary bread!

If bread suggests life and is an essential food, then it not the quality of the food that matters but the type of food and where it is served that matters the most.

Hence who would not feel privileged to have received an invite from the great king and him having been thoughtful of him. One would really feel elated and rejoice greatly at the special invitation.

Immediately next; one would be definitely feel tempted to find one’s position and privilege to see who all are invited and thus evaluate this invitation in the light of those other invitees.

Then one would ask a few others to check whether they too stand invited and again compare themselves and ascertain for themselves where they stand.

If then they find that they have been treated like anyone else and the kings invitation is too general then the invite will stand undervalued and one may not respond at all to the kings invite.

Or even if one goes to the banquet they could go with mindsets which may bring about a casual approach to the banquet.

Imagine every individual approaching the banquet of the king with a similar approach.  How easily we loose our focus that the king is seeking to treat us special and gives this privilege only to the chosen few who may be the poor in spirit, oppressed by evil, life ridden with turmoil, rejected by the many. 

This is exactly how most Christians approach the greatest ever banquet prepared for us by the greatest every God and king of the whole universe. We do this by looking at each other and comparing ourselves with one another rather than responding to the invite as a special guest in need of the eternal invite.

Then we shall not be envying one another's roles and positions in the great assembly of God.

Prayer:  Lord, I now know that I need to respond to your invite with the right attitude and mindset but I tend to sin against you by not valuing the special privilege you have showered on me. 

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Who is at your Table?

Scripture:  One sabbath when he went to dine at the house of a ruler who belonged to the Pharisees, they were watching him.  Luke 14: 1

Reflection:  Meals are great moment to fellowship and learn, thanks to the mind that can do two things at a time. More so at a meal the mind does not require to focus much on a meal that is served.  Yet, when there is a great meal there are times when everyone is so quiet enjoying the meal that they forget that the others are around.

A family meal can be an occasion for praying, learning about the values of life and the Gospel.  In the Gospel example we also learn that we can always invite guests as the Pharisee did, guests who can enrich our spiritual life and the quality of life of the family. The guests need not be a poor but it could be a person who will give you the best concerning the Kingdom of God.  If not, then at least let Jesus be the guest at every meal by inviting him to be a part of your family. “Behold, I stand at the gate, and knock. If any man shall hear my voice, and open to me the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Rev. 3:20

Prayer:  Lord be a part of our family and at every meal animate our conversation for your greater glory.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us