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Exploring the Sunday and Holy Day Readings
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People often have short memories. They forget how God has provided for them in the past. And they start grumbling against God because they do not trust him to provide for them again. That is what happened to the Israelites in the desert. Even though God had brought them out of slavery in Egypt, they feared that God would let them starve on their way to the promised land. So God supplied them with manna, or "bread from heaven." Manna was a sweet grain-like substance that could be made into cakes. And God also sent them quail, a small chicken-like bird, they could eat on their journey.
In the liturgy, our "bread from heaven" is the Eucharist. It is a sign of God's faithful love and of how Jesus is our spiritual food and drink. We are well fed on our journey.
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What are some of the common complaints people of your age make about food, clothing, or housing? Why do you think they complain? What caused the Israelites to grumble against God in the desert? What was God's response? Why might God have sent them manna instead of a food that was already familiar to them?
How do you show your gratitude for the Eucharist as our "bread from heaven"?
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When you were baptized, the celebrant presented you with a white baptismal garment and said, "You have become a new creation and have clothed yourself in Christ." Today Paul reminds the Ephesians that they must put aside their former way of life like an old garment that they have outgrown. They are to put on Christ and live lives of justice and holiness.
Paul describes the unbaptized as empty-headed people who seek meaningless things. He urges Christians to remember that we are made in God's image and are clothed in Christ.
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What signs of empty-headedness have you seen in TV commercials or magazine ads? How do such commercials and ads influence people to clothe themselves in the "old garments" of empty values? If you had to name three empty values that tempt people your age, what would your suggestions be?
Who or what helps you to remember that you have put on Christ? How would you describe a young person who shows that he or she has Christ in his or her head and heart?
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Even when we enjoy a completely satisfying dinner, by morning we will be hungry again and wonder, "What's for breakfast?" The crowd that dined on the miraculously multiplied bread and fish continued to follow Jesus. They hungered for more information about him. He advises them to work not for food that is here today and gone tomorrow but for the food that he will give them. "I am the bread of life," he tells them. Those who believe in him will never have to hunger or thirst spiritually again.
We believe that Jesus is the true bread from heaven. He is our source of everlasting life.
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One again imagine that you, your family, and friends are part of the crowd that continues to follow Jesus. What might you want to know about him? What might your expectations of him be? How would you feel about those who are demanding more signs from Jesus? What questions might you ask when Jesus described himself as the bread of life?
If you were unable to receive Jesus in communion for a long time, what difference might the absence of the Bread of Life make in your life?
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| Proclaiming Faith Activity |
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Living the Sunday and Holy Day Readings
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Read the following poem about bread from heaven. The poem is a cinquain with a prescribed number of syllables for each of the five lines. In the spaces, write your own cinquain about Jesus, the Bread of Life.
Manna ___________________________(2 syllables)
Bread from heaven ________________________________(4 syllables)
Fed the Israelites ________________________________(6 syllables)
Jesus, our true Bread from Heaven _________________________________(8 syllables)
Feeds us _________________________(2 syllables)
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Grumbling and complaining can sometimes blind people to the blessings God has given them. For each of the following grumbles, role play a humorous or helpful response. Your aim is to help the complainer count his or her blessings.
Grumble: "I never have anything to wear!"
Response:
Grumble: "My family is so out of it. I wish they were more like the McCools."
Response:
Grumble: "I hate having to go to Mass every Sunday. Why can't I just stay in bed for a change?"
Response:
Pray: Lord, help me to be grateful more and grumble less. |
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For Bibles and other scripture resources, please see the Sadlier religion catalog.
 www.sadlier.com/main.htm
Copyright © 2003
William H. Sadlier, Inc.
All rights reserved.
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