Scripture Scribbles: August 4, 2024

the Gospel

John 6:24-35

When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there,
they themselves got into boats
and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
And when they found him across the sea they said to him,
"Rabbi, when did you get here?"
Jesus answered them and said,
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
you are looking for me not because you saw signs
but because you ate the loaves and were filled.
Do not work for food that perishes
but for the food that endures for eternal life,
which the Son of Man will give you.
For on him the Father, God, has set his seal."
So they said to him,
"What can we do to accomplish the works of God?"
Jesus answered and said to them,
"This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent."
So they said to him,
"What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you?
What can you do?
Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written:
He gave them bread from heaven to eat."
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."

the scribble

The enormous gold monstrance in all its glory glows under the lights surrounded by darkness and 50,000 people. The Eucharist nestled inside seems to radiate its own light. Kneeling, I hear a deep, ancient note begin and the name “Geeeesssuuuu” come forth from the darkness as the Gregorian chant continues during Adoration. This is the body of Christ, the True Presence of our Lord left for us so we will never hunger or thirst again. Tears stream down my face as I become enveloped in the love that never ceases. 

I thought I had my understanding of the Eucharist in the bag, until I adored Him in a crowd of over 50,000 Catholics at the National Eucharistic Congress in mid-July, and heard countless witnesses to His Power in the Eucharist. Jesus gave us an incredible gift in the Sacrament of Holy Communion. He will give us an everlasting sign that points to his Father’s love - His sacrifice - so we may have eternal life with him always. It’s easy to lose sight and receive communion without thought. If we only knew the transformation that could occur if we allowed Jesus to penetrate us from within as we receive Him. How the world would change if we looked to the Father as He did and become the hands and feet of Christ, through the graces we receive in the Eucharist.

I invite you to go to Adoration and ponder who Jesus is, how He redeems you, and where you need healing as you sit with him. Allow yourself to be consumed by the fire of his love and be in awe of His reality. Next time you receive the Eucharist, ponder this reality.  Become the monstrance - the vessel that radiates Him.

Today’s devotion was written by Diana Giard