Thursday of the Third Week of Easter

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening Prayer

Father, you draw all people to you who believe in your Son Jesus Christ. Faith, Lord, is what I need. Give me a living faith that I may encounter Jesus Christ, your Son, today –

• in your word that you speak to me,
• in the bread that you offer me,
• and in the food that I can give and can be to another.

Through Jesus Christ, your Son and my Lord, who lives with you and the Holy Spirit now and for ever.
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Reading: John 6:44-51 (NLT)

For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up. As it is written in the Scriptures, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. (Not that anyone has ever seen the Father; only I, who was sent from God, have seen him.)

“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes has eternal life. Yes, I am the bread of life! Your ancestors ate manna in the wilderness, but they all died. Anyone who eats the bread from heaven, however, will never die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.”
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Reflection & Prayer:

Heavenly Father:

+ you have given me your written Word in the Scriptures; teach me what it means – that I may listen and learn from you.

+ you have given me your incarnate Word in your Son; draw me continually to him – that I may be raised up on the last day.

+ you have given me your enacted Word in the Sacraments; give me the bread of life – that I may live forever.