John 6: 51-58
I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.”
Take a piece of bread from the Table. Hold it in your hands and consider its texture – the hardness of the outside compared to the soft inside; smell it and remember the welcoming smell of baking bread and the feelings that evokes; taste it and as you eat the bread, consider the life-giving force contained within the bread. As you chew and swallow the bread, it becomes one with your body providing nutrients, energy and sustenance to you.
Meditation phrase:
“…abide in me, and I in them.”
Consider these words and what it means to abide in Jesus and to have Him abide in you.
Prayer of Confession:
Lord, those words imply a spirit of oneness, complete intimacy.
I long for that closeness, but I confess I don’t always strive for that closeness.
I let myself get distracted by the shiny things in life not recognizing that
what appears attractive and inviting to me may not be part of your plan or will.
I let myself get distracted by my fears and worries
not recognizing that I should be focusing on living within your spirit of love.
I let myself get distracted by the day to day demands of my life
not recognizing those in need that you place in front of me.
Help me remember always that the gift our Father gave us in You is an eternal gift.
The one who eats this bread, who abides in You, is one with You eternally. Remove
my distractions and help me recognize that spirit of oneness and to openly
share in the complete intimacy You offer to me.
Uniquely Cherished 