i’m dying to feed you
“He divided the two fish among all of them and they ate until they had their fill.” —Mark 6:41-42
Love feeds. Jesus, Love incarnate, fed the hungry physically and spiritually. A mother gives of herself to nurse her infant. Fathers and mothers work hard to feed their children. Love gives of itself and love feeds. Jesus fed the multitudes out of love (Mk 6:34ff).
How incredible then that Jesus gave of Himself so completely to us, and then found a way to feed us at the same time. He did this by giving us His very flesh to feed us in the Eucharist. The mother gives of herself to nurse her infant, but her nursing does not kill her nor consume her (though surely she feels that way at times). Yet Jesus feeding us with His Body and Blood is linked with His death. He died to give us life — and to feed us by giving us His flesh. “This is My body, to be given up for you” (see 1 Cor 11:24). We respond, recalling His death for us, “We proclaim Your death, O Lord, and profess Your Resurrection until You come again” or “When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim Your death, O Lord, until You come again.”
God gave everything to feed us. Today’s Communion antiphon reads: “Because of that great love of His with which God loves us, He sent His Son in the likeness of sinful flesh.” What He desires in return from us is to eat and rejoice. Can you satisfy His desires? “Eat His flesh” (see Jn 6:53).
Prayer: Jesus, this is my body, to be given up for You. May I die to self so others can live for You.
Promise: “God’s love was revealed in our midst in this way: He sent His only Son into the world that we might have life through Him.” —1 Jn 4:9
Praise: St. John Neumann was a diocesan priest who later joined the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (the Redemptorists). He learned twelve languages to aid in ministering to immigrants. He promoted Forty Hours Eucharistic Adoration in the U.S.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
Rescript: "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for One Bread, One Body covering the period from December 1, 2020 through January 31, 2021. Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio January 14, 2020"
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.