So Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
So they said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
Today the readings remind us of the manna in the desert, the bread from heaven that our Father sends. They point us to the true Bread from Heaven, Jesus, who gives Himself to us in the Eucharist.
Over and over, we see how God provides for us and how He continues to nourish us through this great gift.
The Priesthood
Interestingly enough, today also is the Memorial of St. John Vianney, the humble priest of Ars who is the patron saint of all priests. Today is a special day for us to pray for vocations, for our priests, and for the protection and perseverance of all priests in the gift of their priesthood. It is an honor and a way in our Christian family to love in a special way those who give us the Eucharist so lovingly spoken about in today’s readings.
Ars
In the humble town of Ars, if you ever visit, you witness priest after priest celebrating Mass and offering the Eucharist on the altar that holds this great saint, this humble man.
The chapel still stands, adorned with the beautiful candlesticks and linens that the Curé of Ars picked himself to celebrate the miracle of the Eucharist every day.
Down the way a bit, you see his worn-out shoes sitting next to his bed in his room. These shoes carried the man miles and miles as he brought the same Good News of today’s Gospel to the people of the countryside.
Today, as we meditate on the readings and say thank you to the Father for His great charity in giving us the Eucharist, let us also ask St. John Vianney to intercede for all priests and those in our lives who need the truth and love of the Gospel.
Final prayer
St. John Vianney, pray for us and be our teacher so that, like you, we can be other Christs in this world, witnessing to the Eucharist and the love that He brings us in it.
