THE BREAD OF LIFE DISCOURSE

Transcription

1 THE BREAD OF LIFE DISCOURSE HEART OF CATECHESIS WHOEVER EATS MY FLESH AND DRINKS MY BLOOD HAS ETERNAL LIFE, AND I WILL RAISE HIM ON THE LAST DAY. John 6:54 JESUS CHRIST...SON OF GOD AND SON OF MAN Lesson 15 Jesus is saying these words to those gathered in the synagogue at Capernaum. We have the benefit of hindsight to know Jesus was talking about His Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist. His audience heard these words and thought he was speaking of the Manna from the Old Testament or worse cannibalism. As a result of this many of His disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied Him. (John 6:66) Morgan Bible of Louis the IX 13th Century AMEN, AMEN, I SAY TO YOU, IT WAS NOT MOSES WHO GAVE THE BREAD FROM HEAVEN; MY FATHER GIVES YOU THE TRUE BREAD FROM HEAVEN. FOR THE BREAD OF GOD IS THAT WHICH COMES DOWN FROM HEAVEN AND GIVES LIFE TO THE WORLD. John 6:32-33 DID YOU KNOW? In the Ancient Greek Scripture the verb for eats in John 6: is not the verb the Greeks used for normal human eating. The word used was trogo the verb for an animal eating which translates as munch or gnaws. Re-read the passage and substitute gnaws for eats. PARENTS & CATECHISTS READING REFLECTION & PRAYER Sacred Scripture JOHN 6:22-71 The Bread of Life Discourse Catechism of the Catholic Church # Also #1322, 1324, 1328, 1336, 1339, 1345,1357, 1358 #1367, 1368, 1376, 1377,1384, 1385, 1391, 1394, 1413, and 1415

2 Page 2 THE BREAD OF LIFE DISCOURSE STUDENTS READING REFLECTION & PRAYER Sacred Scripture Grades K-4 New Catholic Picture Bible pp The Promise of the Holy Eucharist Grades 5-12 JOHN 6:22-71 The Bread of Life Discourse Catechism Grades K-2 First Communion Catechism pp Grades 3-6 Baltimore Catechism #1 pp Grades 7-12 Catechism of the Catholic Church # TEACHING STRATEGY & OBJECTIVES THEME: THE HOLY EUCHARIST IS THE BREAD OF LIFE AND IS REALLY AND TRULY JESUS BODY, BLOOD, SOUL, AND DIVINITY OBJECTIVES: Read in John s Gospel the account of the Bread of Life considering these points: Jesus is not promising Bread that will fulfill our earthly needs like the Manna in the Desert Jesus in the Bread of Life which gives Divine Life Jesus is foretelling His institution of the Holy Eucharist Jesus does not sugar coat His message so the crowds will continue to follow Him Many who had followed Jesus could not accept His words and went away Review the SACRAMENT OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST (this will be covered in depth during the Last Supper Lesson) OPENING PRAYER: DECADE OF THE ROSARY- FIFTH LUMINOUS THE INSTITUTION OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST AT THE LAST SUPPER

3 JESUS CHRIST...SON OF GOD AND SON OF MAN Lesson 15 Page 3 REVIEW TERMS COVERED IN LESSON 8-14 THE INCARNATION CONFESSION DIVINITY JESUS CHRIST HOLY ORDERS TRUTH SALVATION ANOINTING OF THE SICK MYSTERY GRACE FAITH MARRIAGE HOPE SIN HOLY EUCHARIST CHARITY ORIGINAL SIN SACRAMENT PRAYER MORTAL SIN HEAVEN VENIAL SIN HELL CONCUPISCENCE PURGATORY REVIEW: PLEASE CONTINUE TO REVIEW TERMS. READINGS FROM SACRED SCRIPTURE: THE BREAD OF LIFE DISCOURSE JOHN 6:22-71 CATECHIST PLEASE READ PORTIONS OF THIS STORY WITH YOUR CLASS WHERE DOES JESUS GIVE THE BREAD OF LIFE DISCOURSE? A few miles to the west from Bethsaida Julias, where Jesus multiplied the loaves; just across the northern tip of the Sea of Galilee in the Synagogue at Capernaum. WHY ARE THE CROWDS FOLLOWING JESUS? Some of them figured out where Jesus had gone. Perhaps some were still thinking about making Him king but most of them, it seems, want to see more miracles and to get a free lunch out of Jesus. They are not following Him because they love Him or because they believe that He is their true Savior and the Son of God they want to be fed and entertained. WHAT DOES HE TELL THEM? Jesus already knows their lack of faith and their hardness of heart. But He also knows that the time has come to teach them about the Bread of Life the HOLY EUCHARIST. So He begins by telling them that they shouldn t be chasing after food for the body but rather, should seek the Bread which comes down from Heaven. HOW DO THEY REACT? They say, give us this bread always. HOW DOES JESUS CHALLENGE THEM EVEN MORE? Jesus tells them that He is the Bread of Life that comes down from Heaven. DOES THE CROWD BELIEVE HIM? No they argue and murmur among themselves, refusing to believe that Jesus came down from Heaven.

4 JESUS CHRIST...SON OF GOD AND SON OF MAN Lesson 15 Page 4 DOES JESUS CHANGE HIS WAY OF TALKING AND SAY HE WAS ONLY USING THE IDEA OF BREAD FROM HEAVEN AS A SYMBOL, AND THAT HE IS ONLY TALKING ABOUT FAITH? No, He does not. He is even clearer about the Mystery, and says, 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. [V. 51] WHAT DO THE CROWDS DO NOW? They get even more upset and they quarrel among themselves how can this man give us his flesh to eat? REVIEW: SO DOES JESUS NOW TELL THEM, I AM ONLY TALKING ABOUT FAITH, OR, I AM ONLY TALKING SYMBOLICALLY? No Jesus goes still further. He says that His Flesh is TRUE FOOD and His Blood, TRUE DRINK, and that whoever eats His Flesh and Drinks His Blood will live forever. WHAT DO THE CROWDS DO AFTER JESUS HAS SAID THESE THINGS? They say, This saying is hard; who can accept it? They refuse to trust Christ, and they do not even try to understand or believe His words. They leave Jesus not just the crowds, but also those who worked with Him more closely His Disciples. It looks as if only the 12 Apostles stay there with Him. WHICH OF THE APOSTLES SPEAKS UP IN SUPPORT OF JESUS? Only Peter. This is one of the few times that good old Simon Peter says something wise and good and right! You have the words of Eternal Life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God. Even though Peter does not fully understand all of the things that Jesus has just said, he still trusts Jesus and believes in Him. This is a great example of FAITH: THE VIRTUE WHICH GIVES US THE ABILITY TO BE- LIEVE IN GOD AND IN THE MYSTERIES WHICH HE HAS REVEALED and HOPE: THE VIRTUE WHICH GIVES US THE ABILITY TO TRUST COMPLETELY IN GOD. Jesus in Capernaum Philippe Champaigne, 1666

5 Page 5 THE BREAD OF LIFE DISCOURSE WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT EATING THE BREAD OF LIFE THAT THE CROWDS DID NOT UNDERSTAND? We know the rest of the story about the Last Supper and Jesus Death and Resurrection. We have the teaching of the Apostles and the teaching of our One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church. We believe and know that Jesus really meant everything that He said, and we understand that the Bread of Life is the SACRAMENT OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST. WHERE DO WE RECEIVE THE BREAD OF LIFE? We receive the Bread of Life, the Holy Eucharist, at Mass. WHAT IS THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS? THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS IS THE BREAD OF LIFE REALLY AND TRULY JESUS? JESUS CHRIST S DEATH AND RESURRECTION ARE MADE PRESENT FOR THOSE WHO ARE GATHERED, AND WE RECEIVE HIM IN THE HOLY EUCHARIST. Yes as we have said many times, the Holy Eucharist the Host is really and truly Jesus Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity THE HOLY EUCHARIST THE SACRAMENT GIVEN TO US BY JESUS AT THE LAST SUPPER AND AT MASS IN HOLY COMMUNION, THE BREAD OF LIFE IS REALLY AND TRULY JESUS BODY, BLOOD, SOUL, AND DIVINITY WHAT IS THE MATTER, FORM AND EFFECT OF THIS SACRAMENT? MATTER: FORM: THE BREAD AND WINE THE WORDS WHICH THE PRIEST SPEAKS AT THE CONSECRATION; THIS IS MY BODY THIS IS THE CHALICE OF MY BLOOD. EFFECT: 1. WE EMBRACE JESUS IN HOLY COMMUNION 2. JESUS STRENGTHENS OUR SOUL AND PERFECTS IT IN HIS IMAGE AND LIKENESS 3. THE VIRTUE OF CHARITY IS PERFECTED WITHIN US. CHARITY IS VIRTUE WHICH GIVE US THE ABILITY TO LOVE WITH GOD S LOVE 4. IT BRINGS US INTO CLOSER UNION WITH THE CHURCH, AND STRENGTHENS THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH.

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