Prayers of SVD
May the darkness of sin
and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word
and the Spirit of grace
and may the Heart of Jesus live
in the hearts of all people.
(Saint Arnold Janssen)
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The Bread of Life
One simple expression that we often hear; "We eat to live, but we do not live to eat". This statement wants to tell us that the purpose of eating is to maintain life. We are not filling our lives only by eating. There are so many things that need attention in human life. We look for food every day, but especially we need food for the soul. The daily Eucharist with the community fulfills our soul with the necessary food. "The center and source of community life is the Eucharist" (Const. SSpS 302).
Jesus' concern for the basic human needs was expressed on several occasions during his encounter with the people. Jesus fed five thousand people which is described in Gospels. After giving life to Jairus' daughter, Jesus told them to feed the child (Mk 5:43); while walking with his disciples on Sabbath and he let the disciples pick grain of wheat (Mk 2: 23-28). Finally Jesus held an evening banquet (Matt. 26: 26-29, Mrk 14: 22-25, Lk 22: 15-20, 1 Cor 11: 23-25) and after he was risen, he asked the disciples for food (Lk 24: 41b).
Jesus took care of "hungry people" because his heart was full of love. Laws and regulations made by humans cannot limit Jesus' compassion for others. As people who follow Jesus, we are also invited to have a heart ready to help the hungry. The example of Jesus strengthens us to continue our mission in the community and among mission partners wherever we are sent.
In the house of God we are invited to take an action. We who have received Bread of Life, we should become bread that brings hope and life to our sisters and brothers in need.