Believe in one strength: the Eucharist, the Body and Blood of the Lord that will give you life. “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” (Jn. 10:10). As manna nourished the Israelites on their journey to the Promised Land, so the Eucharist will nourish you on your road of hope (cf. Jn. 6:50). (Cardinal Van Thuan, Five Loaves and Two Fish)

Reflection

In today’s Office of Readings, the excerpt from the Jerusalem Catecheses (4th Century) instructs us that when we receive the Body and Blood of the Lord, “we become bearers of Christ and sharers, as Saint Peter says, in the divine nature…

… Do not, then, regard the eucharistic elements as ordinary bread and wine: they are in fact he body and blood of the Lord, as he himself has declared. Whatever your senses may tell you, be strong in faith.

You have been taught and you are firmly convinced that what looks and tastes like bread and wine is not bread and wine but the body and blood of Christ. You know also how David referred to this long ago when he sang: ‘Bread gives strength to man’s heart and makes his face shine with the oil of gladness.’ Strengthen your heart, then, by receiving this bread as spiritual bread, and bring joy to the face of your soul.”