Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter
“For greater things you were born.” (Ven. Mother Luisita)
TUESDAY, May 10th Jn 10: 22-30 Jesus said: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. No one can take them out of my hand.”
Jesus is the Good Shepherd and we are His sheep. He knows us and we follow Him, especially in the two Sacraments that we can and are encouraged to receive frequently and fervently for our eternal salvation—Confession for the forgiveness of our sins, and Holy Communion where we actually consume the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus in every Holy Communion and become one with Him, one with God Himself!
The Two-Part, Two-Day Scripture Passages and Meditations provided by Fr. Ed help us delve deep into the Old and New Testaments to see how God prepared for all eternity the Gift of all Gifts, Himself in the Most Holy Eucharist!
PART TWO OF A TWO-PART MEDITATION SPREAD OVER TWO DAYS…
15 BIBLICAL MEDITATIONS FOR EUCHARISTIC ADORATION by Fr. Ed Broom, OMV
PART TWO: New Testament Focus. Paragraphs 8 thru 15. READ AND MEDITATE on the Bible verses cited and Fr. Ed’s commentary for each day.
8. Back to John 6:1 to 70
Once again we return to the all-important chapter of John 6. This long chapter offers three essential themes for our meditation:
1) Jesus multiplies the loaves. Here Jesus works a natural miracle for the multitude and for us, so as to dispose and prepare our minds, hearts, and souls for the miracle of the Eucharist.
2) Jesus walks on water. If we truly believe in the Lord, we too can carry out miracles. Miracles of salvation through our prayers and sacrifices. “Lord, I believe, but strengthen my faith.” (Mk 9:24)
3) Finally, close to 2/3 of Chapter 6 of Saint John is the Bread of Life Discourse. This magnificent preaching of Jesus teaches without stammer or stutter, with the greatest clarity, that if we want to live forever we must nourish ourselves on the Bread of Life. Of course, this refers to the Eucharist and Holy Communion!
9. Matthew 26:17-30 Institution of the Eucharist
In the context of the Last Supper, Jesus celebrates the First Mass on that Holy Thursday night. In the same context Jesus institutes and ordains the first priests; these are the Apostles. With awe and thanksgiving let us lift our hearts in praise to the Lord for this most sublime gift.
Let us beg for greater faith and love for the Eucharist, as well as implore the Lord for good and holy priests!
10. Revelations 3:14-21 Jesus Stands and Knocks
This short but challenging passage presents Jesus as a pilgrim-traveler knocking at the door. The owner can either choose to leave the door shut and ignore the traveler’s knock or he can open the door to the weary traveler and invite him to supper.
The Eucharistic Lord is knocking at the door of your heart now. What is your response? The supper is the Lord’s Supper—Holy Mass and Holy Communion.
11. I Corinthians 11:17-34 Eucharistic Abuse
This passage in the Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians explodes! Unfortunately, in this early Christian community there were members who were abusing the Eucharist. The more affluent were eating and drinking, even getting drunk, and neglecting the poor. Then after this scandal, they would be eating the Body and drinking the Blood of the Lord, and Saint Paul says to their own condemnation.
This Biblical passage gives us the foundation for the importance of receiving the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of Jesus, in the state of grace. Otherwise, we could be eating and drinking, not for our salvation, but for our condemnation!
12. Luke 24:13-35 The Road to Emmaus
A beautiful and heart-warming Easter passage, in a nutshell this passage offers us a summary of Holy Mass in miniature. Two disciples, walking away from Jerusalem after Christ’s crucifixion and death, are in the depths of desolation until a stranger joins them. That “stranger” is the risen Jesus, unrecognized by them. The journey on the way to their little cottage in Emmaus, talking with Jesus and listening to Him, is the Liturgy of the Word. The Breaking of the Bread in the little cottage is the Liturgy of the Eucharist. In the breaking of the bread they recognize the Lord Jesus and return to Jerusalem in haste to share their joy with the Apostles and other disciples.
One key interpretation: when we live and walk without Jesus, we live and walk in utter darkness, desolation, and sadness. However, once Jesus, the Son of God and Light of the World, breaks through the clouds and shines light on our path, the clouds of sadness dissipate and we experience an over-flowing and abundant joy! “Were not our hearts burning within us as he talked with us on the road and explained the Word of God to us?”
13. Mt 6:5-14 The Our Father
In the Lord’s Prayer, which we commonly call The Our Father, there are seven petitions. One of these refers to the Eucharist and Holy Communion. “Give us this day our daily bread….” One way in which this can be interpreted is the challenge, inasmuch as it is possible according to our daily obligations, to attend Mass and receive Holy Communion even on a daily basis.
In other words, this daily bread could be interpreted as daily Mass and daily Holy Communion. Those who have formed the habit of daily Mass and Holy Communion find that they cannot live without this nourishment. Try it out: daily Mass and daily Holy Communion!
14. Luke 1:26-38 Receiving Jesus as Mary did.
When Our Lady gave her consent to God through the Archangel Gabriel with the words of her Fiat/Yes: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; be it done to me according to your word”, at that very moment, “The word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (Jn 1:14)
Pope Saint John Paul II makes a parallel between Mary’s YES to God and our AMEN when we receive Jesus in Holy Communion. In this sense, Mary’s YES resulted in receiving Jesus into her heart, mind, body, and soul; so also our AMEN when we receive Jesus in Mass results in Jesus entering into the very center of our being. For that reason, it is important to beg Mary for the grace to receive Jesus with deeper faith, devotion, and love in every Holy Communion!
15. Luke 1:39-56 The Magnificat
We conclude on a Marian note taken from the great Marian lover, Saint Louis de Montfort, who gave us True Devotion to Mary. Related to the Mass, Holy Communion, and the Eucharist, Saint Louis says that one of the best ways that we can render a proper thanksgiving to Jesus after receiving Him in Holy Communion is by praying the Mary’s Magnificat. “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior….”
Through the intercession of the most pure and Immaculate Heart of Mary may all of you grow in your faith, belief, devotion, and love for Jesus in frequent Masses and Holy Communions. Indeed, Jesus is the Bread of Life, and whoever eats His Body and drinks His Blood will have eternal life of joy, peace, and happiness forever in Heaven.
“O Sacrament most holy, O Sacrament divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine!”
