In today`s gospel Jesus says “I am the Bread of Life”. In last week`s gospel he fed the crowds with just 5 loaves and 2 fish, but in today`s gospel he says he himself is the Bread.  He is the eternal Word which came down from heaven and took on human flesh; in the Mass bread and wine become his flesh and blood, and we consume them in a holy communion which bonds us with him.

A couple of weeks ago some children made their first holy communion at Our Lady Immaculate. I told them the host would taste bland.  Often our whole experience of receiving holy communion, daily or weekly, can be bland. We get into a habit of receiving the sacrament thoughtlessly, it becomes routine, but, nevertheless, in ways we don`t realise, it goes on deepening that bond between God and us.

At the moment many people are not able to receive holy communion because of the Pandemic and we talk about spiritual communion and other ways of being in touch with God, but in the eucharist we eat God`s flesh and drink his blood and come into contact with eternal life. Let`s continue to pray that by Advent towards the end of the year we will be able to gather in church again and receive the Bread of life.

 Kind Regards
Fr Maurice