how can i know jesus?
“They had come to know Him in the breaking of bread.” —Luke 24:35
During the upcoming week, the Church in daily Mass reads to us from the Bread of Life discourse (Jn 6:25-59). Today’s Gospel, recounting the disciples’ encounter with Jesus on the road to the village of Emmaus, leads directly to the Eucharist. Prepared by an in-depth journey through the Old Testament Scriptures foretelling the Messiah, the disciples recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread (Lk 24:30-31).
This week, the Church will once again prepare us to recognize Jesus truly present in the Holy Eucharist. It will do this by an in-depth reading of that Bread of Life discourse. It is critical to dwell deeply in the Word of God in order to recognize Jesus. Less than half of registered Catholics believe in the Real Presence of Jesus, Body, Blood, soul, and divinity, in the Eucharist. This unbelief is symptomatic of a famine for the Word of God and thus a famine for the Bread of Life (Am 8:11).
Therefore, ask the Lord for an insatiable hunger for the food of the Kingdom — the bread of God’s Word (Mt 4:4) and the Holy Eucharist (Jn 6:35). Read the Bible daily. Learn to recognize Jesus. “Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 133). If we aren’t living in the Word, we risk missing the time of our visitation (Lk 19:44).
Prayer: Father, may I prefer to spend a day without eating rather than spend a day without reading Your Word.
Promise: “You were delivered from the futile way of life your fathers handed on to you…by Christ’s blood beyond all price.” —1 Peter 1:18-19
Praise: Praise You, Jesus, Word-made-Flesh and Lamb of God (Jn 1:14, 29).
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
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