Presenting the Fourteenth Edition for 2006 of the WEEKLY DEVOTIONS:
Jesus Christ, the Living Bread of Life from Heaven. Therefore; Get up and Eat!!!!!!!
Keep on praying, this world is in great need of it. "Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.â€
Are you feeling lonely and tired, living a weary and worn-out life filled with unhappiness? Do you have problems with your family, at work, and with your friends and the list goes on…You then begin to doubt and lose faith in God. Discouragement, isolation and worry set in and your inner joy gradually deteriorates.
Your life of Faith then needs nourishment in order to survive. Jesus says; I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.
Jesus also tells us;
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
The great prophet Elijah was not exempt from doubt concerning the mystery of God. Elijah was also discouraged because of the words he was proclaiming from God were rejected by the Israelites and Jezebel wanted to kill him. Elijah was afraid and ran for his life into the desert ready to die when a messenger procured Elijah water and bread necessary for his survival. Let us take a closer look of this passage in the Bible.
The prophet Elijah fleeing from the hostility of Queen Jezebel:
…….went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat." He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you." So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 1 Kings 19:4-8
The Eucharist!!! The Bread of Life.
At this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." They said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I came down from heaven'?"
"Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered. "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father. I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died. But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." John 6:41-51
Be imitators of God
and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Ephesians 5:2
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:30-32
Taste and see the Goodness of the Lord
Psalm 34
I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips. My soul will boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice. Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together. I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them. Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies.
Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry; the face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken. Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned. The LORD redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.
Jesus is the bread of life who came down from Heaven. If we believe in Jesus Christ, as our Lord and Savior, He will then resuscitate us when He returns. Jesus gives us the wine and bread necessary to live eternally with Him.
Let us not be afraid to get up and eat the bread of life, the Eucharist, and the delights that He offers and that we want to celebrate.
Never despair; Jesus Christ is the Living Bread of Life from Heaven.
Therefore today, Get up and Eat!!!!!!!
