Introductory Prayer: I want to set aside the cares of the day to spend this time alone with you. I want to give you my full attention, because you are my life and my hope, you gave me all I am and all I have. Here I am, to give you the place you deserve in my life. 

Petition: Lord, increase my faith that you are the true Bread of Life, that in your word and in your body are my hope for eternal life. Help me never to seek in creatures what only you, my God, can give. May I never waver in my hope and let me never be parted from you.

Gospel: John 6:41-51

The Jews murmured about Jesus because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven," and they said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" Jesus answered and said to them, "Stop murmuring among yourselves. No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. It is written in the prophets: They shall all be taught by God. Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. 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."

1. Faith Is Free for the Pure of Heart.

Sometimes we think that had we only lived in Jesus day it would have been so much easier to believe. But Jesus words make it clear that not only is faith a gift, but that to believe we must have certain dispositions of the heart. Those who murmur against Jesus are closing themselves off to the gift of faith since the Father does not force our freedom. But all who listen with humility and an open heart to the prophets and the Father will be drawn to Jesus by the Fathers love. Those are the same dispositions I must strive for. Without them, what God reveals will seem too difficult to accept or live out. It may even appear absurd to our human way of reasoning. We need to be less sure of ourselves and more dependent on listening to what God is saying to us in order to receive the gift of faith and hear what he is asking of us.

2. Bread That Was Less Filling.

The manna which sustained the Israelites in the desert was a foreshadowing of the Eucharist. God fed his people with manna throughout their long journey to the Promised Land. It was a powerful miracle that showed his care for his people. Yet that bread did not give eternal life; indeed the Israelites rebelled and complained and fell into sin again and again. They were looking more for their material comfort and satisfaction in this world than for the hope and joy that comes from being led by God to a new life. In the Eucharist, God feeds us with the Bread of Eternal Life, his own Son, leading us through the journey of this life to an entirely new life in him. Let us renew our faith in the True Bread that gives us life.

3. I Will Live Forever.

Eternal life begins now for those who believe that Jesus is the Bread of Life. Through faith in the Eucharist, we enter into a new life that is qualitatively different than a life seeking only pleasure and comfort within the material confines of our limited existence. Br drawing our strength from the Eucharist, receiving Christ well and frequently, we can build our fidelity day by day with the strength he gives us. Many of our friends live as if there was no other life than this one we are now living, and we are tempted to make our decisions as if this were true. Christ helps us make the correct decisions in this life, by keeping our eyes on where our true home is, and on the things that last. Eternal life give sense and meaning to many of the difficulties we live through in this life. 

Dialogue with Christ: Lord, give me always this Bread of Life. Open my heart and soul to long for the new life that only you can bring me through the Eucharist. Give me the humility and simplicity to listen to you and to believe that you have the words of eternal life. Help me to prepare worthily to receive you.

Questionnaire: This optional questionnaire is intended to help you evaluate your life in light of the inspirations God just gave you in these moments you spent with him in prayer.

1. How often do I receive the Eucharist? How do I prepare my soul and heart to receive this gift?

2. In what ways am I living my life for today as opposed to living my life for eternity? What change is Christ asking of me in this regard?

3. In what concrete ways do I endeavor to share my faith with others?