"Do you realize that Jesus is there in the tabernacle expressly for you - for you alone?

"The Blessed Sacrament is indeed the stimulus for us all, for me as it should be for you, to forsake all worldly ambitions. Without the constant presence of our Divine Master upon the altar in my poor chapels, I never could have persevered casting my lot with the lepers of Molokai; the foreseen consequence of which begins now to appear on my skin, and is felt throughout the body. Holy Communion being the daily bread of a priest, I feel myself happy, well pleased, and resigned in the rather exceptional circumstances in which it has pleased Divine Providence to put me."- Blessed Fr. Damien, Apostle of the Lepers

Gospel text: (JN 6:44-51)

Jesus said to the crowds:
"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him,
and I will raise him on the last day.
It is written in the prophets:

They shall all be taught by God.

Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me.
Not that anyone has seen the Father
except the one who is from God;
he has seen the Father.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes has eternal life.
I am the bread of life.
Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died;
this is the bread that comes down from heaven
so that one may eat it and not die.
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."

Society has a tremendous influence on how we think and on our actions. It’s easy to be convinced that a “no-carb diet” is the way to good health. Just the same, it is easy to be convinced that the way to happiness and peace is through material goods and actions that are counter to the “consumption” of Jesus. Jesus is the bread of life. To consume him means that we are fully nourished, happy and healthy.