The living bread

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today’s Gospel reading continues from John’s Gospel chapter six building on last weeks’ teaching. Last week Jesus taught the crowds, saying ‘I am the bread that came down from heaven.’ He repeats again today, ‘I am the living bread which has come down from heaven.’ One aspect of bread is that it nourishes us. It is the staple food in Africa, Middle East, Europe, Australia and Central Asia. Jesus is pointing to himself as the ‘staple food’ the ultimate nourishment for all of humanity. We certainly need other food physically to survive but it is Jesus who is the ultimate meaning and support of our lives. He also mentions the story of the great Exodus. Just as God gave the Israelites manna to sustain them in the desert, so now God has sent new manna that will give eternal life.

The people had difficulty understanding Jesus when He said that the bread that He will give is His own flesh. In response to the people who argued over His words, Jesus teaches with even greater emphasis that those who eat His Body and Blood will be saved. The question as to how this can happen can only be understood after His death and Resurrection. Through the words Jesus’ uses in today’s Gospel Jesus teaches about the life that He will give to the world, to each one of us. Many people did not believe or accept Jesus’ words as they found it difficult to understand them. Even today many people continue to struggle to accept Jesus’ teachings. They are though important words which if we accept them will give great meaning to our lives because they reveal our intimate connection with Jesus.

Jesus also gives Himself to us in the Eucharist. In the elements of bread and wine, Jesus’ Body and Blood are truly present. When we receive the Eucharist, Jesus Himself comes to dwell in us. This communion with the Lord makes us one body. Brings us to everlasting life and strengthens us to do works of love in our own families and the great family of humanity. Any good work that we do for the love of God and neighbour is a spreading of the goodness that radiates from the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

A reading from the Gospel of John (Jn 6: 51-58)

Jesus said to the crowds:

“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.” The Jews quarrelled 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.”

The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ

  1. Read the Gospel story so that you are familiar with it.
  2. Reflect on what the Gospel is saying to you. Which points would you highlight and why?
  3. The most obvious way that we can apply Jesus’ teachings to our lives is by believing in Him and showing others that Christ is at the centre of our family lives and worship. Attend Mass regularly on Sunday and if possible on week days and receive Holy Communion.
  4. St Francis de Sales said “prayer is the means by which we ascend to God, the sacraments are the channels by which God descends to us.” This week try to visit the Blessed Sacrament in the tabernacle as a family and spend more time in prayer and adoration.
  5. Together with your family find the right time to read this Gospel. The environment helps, so before you start, prepare
    i. The Bible reading from St John (Jn 6: 51-58).
    ii. A candle
    iii. Cover the table with a green cloth
    iv. A computer/laptop with the readings and clips
  6. Go through the steps with your children (2 age groups are being suggested).
  7. Feel free to adapt to your situation.
  8. Be creative Go through the steps with your children (2 age groups are being suggested)
  9. Feel free to adapt to your situation
  10. Be creative 😊
  11. Go to the Prayer Corner section to continue praying as a family

In today’s Gospel Jesus says something very important. He teaches us that there is a way for us to live with Him forever in Heaven. Jesus describes Himself as special food, ‘bread from heaven.’ This bread fills our hearts and souls forever. Through Jesus, God has given us the gift of eternal life.

  • Jesus invites us to live with God forever
  • Jesus says he is the ‘living bread’
  • Bread of Life template
  • White envelope
  • Pencil/colours
  • Scissors
PrintoutDownload

One day Jesus said something very important. He said “I am the Bread of Life.” Let’s look at exactly what Jesus meant when he said this. In the same way that bread fills us up and sustains us when we are hungry,  Jesus also fills us up and sustains us.

Why do we eat and drink? Because we need to nourish our bodies so that they will grow and be strong and healthy.

In today’s Gospel Jesus tells us that he gives us a special food that will help us to be with God forever in heaven.  Wow, what does that mean? In the same way that bread sustains us and would help keep us alive if we were stuck on a desert island, Jesus gives us life and he sustains us. Jesus wants us to know him and that’s why he told us that he is the ‘Bread of Life.’ No snack, or food will ever truly satisfy us, but knowing Jesus will give us life forever. Jesus said that he will be with all people who eat this bread from heaven and that they will live forever with God in heaven. Some of you may have celebrated your First Holy Communion recently a very special day, during mass we eat a special meal, and it’s called The Eucharist. Whose Body and Blood do the bread and wine that we offer become in the Sacrament of the Eucharist? They become Jesus, who comes to us. We remember that Jesus sacrificed his life to save us from our sins and to give us eternal life. Just as our bodies are nourished and strengthened by food and drink, our spirits are nourished and strengthened when we celebrate this Sacrament.

To remember what Jesus said in today’s Gospel printout the ‘Bread of Life’ template and cut out each of the slices of bread. Place them in the envelope and write on it the memory verse “I am the living bread which has come down from heaven.”(Jn 6:51)

And write Thank You Jesus for being the bread of life!

Do this whilst you listen to the song, THE EUCHARIST.

Sign of the cross.

Lord, thank you for being the Bread of Life. Open our eyes and the eyes of all to see you as the only Bread for spiritual hunger but, also, to see your presence in the faces of all who have physical hunger. Amen

In today’s Gospel Jesus teaches us something important. He calls himself the living bread that came down from heaven. This bread fills our hearts and souls forever, through Jesus God has given us the gift of eternal life.

  • When we receive the gift of Jesus in the Eucharist, we receive God’s life within us.
  • We not only receive a gift, but we become a gift to others.
  • 500g plain flour (Enough for 2 small bread loaves, if you want more, increase the amounts accordingly)
  • 4g yeast
  • A pinch of salt
  • 325ml lukewarm water

Jesus knew He was going to die, but He took the time to give the disciples and us a special gift, the Eucharist. Himself.

Jesus made a promise to be with us until the end of time. The Eucharist is the way He keeps His promise and stays physically with us.

The word Eucharist means ‘to give thanks.’ Think of a time when you received a gift, how did it make you feel? Maybe you received a special present for your birthday, one that you really wanted for a long time. When you received it how did you feel? What did you say to the person who gave it to you? Probably you felt happy and said, ‘thank you.’ When someone gives us a gift, they are showing us how much they care for us and want us to be happy. This makes us feel thankful. God feels the same way, he loves us and wants to take care of us, he gave us a very special gift, Jesus.

We believe that at Mass the bread and wine that we offer becomes the Body and Blood of Christ. This very special gift (the Eucharist) joins us more fully to Jesus and to one another. At Mass we celebrate together as members of God’s family. When we receive the gift of Jesus in the Eucharist, we receive God’s life within us. When we receive the Eucharist, we make our souls strong and healthy, it helps us to resist sin and it strengthens our friendship with Jesus. The Eucharist helps us to make good choices which lead us closer and closer to eternity in heaven with God. The Eucharist helps us to love others like Jesus loves. This love helps us to focus on others and not just ourselves. Not only do we receive a gift, but we become a gift for others! How can you be a gift to others? Try to think of a way in which you can become a gift by bringing the presence of Jesus at home, or at school or with your friends. Maybe you can say something kind, act in a caring way, be less selfish, smile at someone who is feeling sad. There are lots of ways we can bring the gift of Jesus to others.

We are going to make our own bread and then share it with our family and friends. Collect all the ingredients Step one: we mix all the ingredients in a bowl. Step two: we knead the dough.

Step three: we wait! Divide the dough into two and put in separate bowls. Cover with cling film and allow to rest for two hours. Step four: bake the bread. Heat the oven at 2000C. Grease a baking tray with butter or line with baking paper, put the dough in the shape of bread loaves on the tray. Bake for 30 minutes or until you see that it is ready. Step five: enjoy eating the bread together and let us not forget to give the other loaf to someone else, so that we can share what we have and our love with others.

Listen to this song whilst you make your bread,

We are one body.

Sign of the cross.

Loving God, we are surrounded by your love. Thank you for your many gifts, especially the gift of Jesus who comes to us in the Eucharist. Amen

How to use this space

God speaks to us in many ways, including through the Sunday Scripture readings. Here you will find useful background and activities to better understand the upcoming Sunday's Scripture readings, helping you to connect the Scripture to daily life in a meaningful way.