A SHEEP NEEDS A GOOD SHEPHERD.

THE LORD IS MY GOOD SHEPHERD. 

"Jesus said: “I am the good shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

"A hired man, who is not a shepherd and whose sheep are not his own, sees a wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away, and the wolf catches and scatters them.

"This is because he works for pay and has no concern for the sheep.

"I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father;

"and I will lay down my life for the sheep.

"I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. These also I must lead, and they will hear my voice, and there will be one flock, one shepherd.

"This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father.” (John 10: 11 - 18).

Sunday 21st April 2024 in the 4th Week in the Easter Season.

My brethren, a sheep needs a shepherd. Jesus says that He is not just our shepherd but He is a Good Shepherd.

What does a shepherd do for the helpless dependent sheep?

1. He leads them to a safe and rich pasture where they can graze in safety.

2. After grazing, he leads them to a cool shade where they rest and sleep.

3. All the time, he protects them from wolves which prowl and are a constant danger to the sheep.

Jesus Christ our Good Shepherd does all the above for us.

The Holy Eucharist is the rich and safe pasture which Jesus has prepared for us. 

The Most Holy Name of Jesus is a bulwark of protection from attacks from any wolf .

When we are injured by the attacks of the wolf, we have the Sacrament of Reconciliation to nurse us and bring us to good health.

THE EUCHARIST IS THE IS THE PASTURE THE GOOD SHEPHERD PROVIDES FOR HIS SHEEP. 

The Church learns more and honors the HOLY EUCHARIST in APRIL. 

For Teachings, Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-holy-eucharist_31.html?m=1

THE SPIRIT GIVES ABUNDANT LIFE.

IT IS THE SPIRIT THAT GIVES LIFE. 

"Many of the disciples of Jesus who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?”

"Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?

"It is the Spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe.”

"Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.”

"As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer walked with him.

"Jesus then said to the Twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” 

"Simon Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6: 60 - 69).

Saturday April 20th in 3rd Week of Easter Season.

IT IS THE SPIRIT THAT GIVES LIFE. Our flesh has nothing to offer. What a revelation we have in the Gospel of today.

The Liturgy calls the Holy Spirit "The Lord and Giver of life."

At the Epiclesis, the moment the Priest spreads His hands over the Chalice and the Ciborium, he calls down the Holy spirit to transform the bread and the wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. It happens at that moment.

The Spirit is the Lord and Giver of eternal life. The Eucharist is the source of eternal life.

The Holy Spirit is also the Source of abundant life.

"I have come that you may have life and have it abundantly." (John 10: 10).

There is a dynamic connection between the Holy Spirit and the Eucharist. If you want to grow in the Holy Spirit, receive the Eucharist often. As you grow in abundant life, you grow in the knowledge and love of the Eucharistic presence of Jesus Christ.

THE CHURCH HONORS THE EUCHARIST IN APRIL. 

The Church learns more and honors the HOLY EUCHARIST in APRIL. 

For Teachings, Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-holy-eucharist_31.html?m=1

THE EUCHARIST IS POSSIBLE BECAUSE ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE FOR GOD!

HOW CAN THIS MAN GIVE US HIS FLESH TO EAT? 

"The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?” 

"Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you.

"Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him.

"Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.

"This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum." (John 6: 52 - 59).

Friday April 19th 2024 in the 3rd Week in Easter Season.

The Eucharist is the medicine of immortality.  (St Ignatius of Antioch). 

We continue with the Bread of life Discourse in the 6th Chapter of the Gospel of St John where eating and drinking the Body and Blood of Jesus is the dominant theme of this Easter Season so far.

It has been said that the best interpretation of the Gospel is the Example of the saints who are faithful and true witnesses to Jesus and His Way. Let us read below how some of the saints bore witness to the truth of the Bread of life Discourse.

"Jesus has made Himself the Bread of Life to give us life. Night and day, He is there. If you really want to grow in love, come back to the Eucharist, come back to that Adoration." (Mother St Teresa of Kolkata).

"From the Eucharist comes strength to live the Christian life and zeal to share that life with others."  (Pope St John Paul II).

"Holy Communion is the shortest and safest way to heaven." (Pope St Pius X).

"There is nothing so great as the Eucharist. If God had something more precious, He would have given it to us." (St John Vianney).

"The Eucharist is "the source and summit of the Christian life." "The other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ himself, our Pasch." (CCC 1324).

My flesh is real food and My blood is real drink says the Lord.

THE CHURCH HONORS THE EUCHARIST IN APRIL.  

For Teachings, Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-holy-eucharist_31.html?m=1

ARE YOU INVITED?

COME AND EAT BREAD. COME AND DRINK RICH WINE. 

"Jesus said to the crowds: “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.” (John 6: 44 - 51).

Thursday April 18th 2024 in 3rd Week in Easter Season.

According to St Athanasius, the early Church Father and Martyr, Easter is a 50-Day Sunday. Because of the Resurrection of His dear Son Jesus Christ, God's sweetness towards us in this holy and joyful Season is boundless. The image of the Eucharist permeates the whole Eastertide. 

"Come and eat bread without money. Come and drink rich wine." (Cf Isaiah 55: 1 - 2). 

I love the Easter Season. This is my best liturgical Season. Because Jesus Christ has risen from the grave, I indulge myself in the 50-Day festivities: Ice cream, donut, walnut, movies, music, etc. 

I delighted today from this joyful noise from the Altar. 

Have you heard the above words before Holy Communion? Are you invited to the Supper of the Lamb? 

THE EUCHARIST IS THE SOURCE, CENTER AND SUMMIT OF THE LIFE OF THE CHURCH. 

The Church learns more and honors the HOLY EUCHARIST in APRIL. 

For Teachings, Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-holy-eucharist_31.html?m=1

EAT MY FLESH AND YOU SHALL LIVE FOREVER.

I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE. 

"Jesus said to the crowds,

“I am the bread of life; who­ever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.

"But I told you that although you have seen me, you do not believe.

"Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me.

"And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day. 

"For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.” (John 6: 35 - 40).

Wednesday 17th April 2024 in the 3rd Week in the Easter Season. 

Jesus continues the BREAD of LIFE DISCOURSE. 

"I am the bread of life; who­ever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst."

The Eucharist is the soul, center and summit of the life of the Church. This is why the Church offers us the whole Month of April to reflect on this great mystery and deepen our knowledge and love of this great Sacrament. 

I can say without fear of contradiction that all the saints in the Roman Calendar are Eucharistic Saints. They could never be Saints without the Eucharist. Here is what a sample of the Saints say about the Holy Eucharist. 

1.     “In an ever-changing world the Holy Eucharist is a constant reminder of the great reality of God’s changeless love.” – Saint Teresa of Avila 

 2.    “Holy Communion is the most efficacious means of uniting one’s self to God.” – Saint Paul of the Cross  

3.     “The Holy Eucharist is the perfect expression of the love of Jesus Christ for man.” – Saint Maria Goretti

4.     “The Eucharist is a fire that inflames us, that, like lions breathing fire, we may retire from the altar being made terrible to the devil.” – Saint John Chrysostom

5.     “This is the bread of everlasting life which supports the substance of our souls.” – Saint Ambrose

6.     “The Eucharist is the supreme proof of the love of Jesus. After this, there is nothing more but Heaven itself.” – Saint Peter Julian Eymard

THE HOLY EUCHARIST MAKES THE CHURCH. 

Honor the HOLY EUCHARIST in APRIL. 

For Teachings, Prayers and Prayer intentions click the link:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-holy-eucharist_31.html?m=1