BREAD FOR THE JOURNEY
INTRODUCTORY RITES
Gather as a family/ community; create an environment appropriate for prayer (dress appropriately - switch off your phones...).
We cannot gather as usual for the Eucharist. But we are conscious that Christ is present not only in the Blessed Sacrament but also in the Scriptures and in our hearts. Even when we are on our own, we remain part of the Body of Christ.
Place lighted candles, a crucifix, and the Bible on a covered table. These remind us of the sacredness of our time of prayer and could help us feel connected with our local worshipping communities.
You may sing or play an appropriate hymn. For instance:
The Sign of the Cross
Greeting and Introductory Words
L: The Lord invites us to the table of his Word: let us bless him for his goodness.
A: Blessed be God forever.
L: This morning’s liturgy highlights the importance of food for the journey of our lives on earth and our journey to eternal life. Today we celebrate that Jesus gives himself to us in the Eucharist… as bread for the journey of life. We pray that Jesus, the Bread of Life, may sustain us on our journey.
Penitential Rite
L: For the times we have not been open to this sustenance, we ask for mercy.
Pause
L: Lord Jesus, you promise to raise us up on the last day:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you are the living bread that comes down from heaven:
Christ, have mercy.
A: Christ, have mercy.
L: Lord Jesus, you give us your body and blood to strengthen us:
Lord, have mercy.
A: Lord, have mercy.
L: May almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins,
and bring us to everlasting life.
A: Amen.
Gloria
Opening Prayer
L: God, our Father and provider,
whose Son has given his flesh for the life of the world,
sustain your pilgrim Church on its journey
with the word of life and the bread of heaven.
Draw us nearer to him
that, following his way of sacrificial love,
we may come to the banquet of eternal life.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever.
A: Amen.
THE LITURGY OF THE WORD
Readings
The readings are those assigned for the day in the Lectionary.
Preferably use a Bible/ Lectionary for reading.
Reading 1 1 Kings 19:4-8
Psalm Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
Response Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Reading 2 Ephesians 4:30—5:2
Acclamation
Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord;
whoever eats this bread will live forever.
Gospel John 6:41-51
Reflection on the Readings
Use one of the following ways to reflect on the readings.
Lectio Divina
Imagine you are among the crowd that “murmured about Jesus.” Do you also murmur against him? Why/why not?
What are your thoughts and feelings when Jesus 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”?
Sunday Snippets
A senior citizen went to a restaurant for lunch and always had soup. One day the manager asked him how he liked his meal. He replied: “Good but you could give me more bread. Two slices aren’t enough.”
The next day the manager told the waitress to give the man four slices, then eight. Still not enough! The manager told the waitress to give him a whole loaf. But the senior citizen wanted more!
The manager wanted to satisfy this customer. The next day, he ordered a huge loaf of bread from the bakery, cut the loaf in half, and served it with the soup. The senior citizen came for lunch and devoured the soup and the huge loaf. The manager—hoping he had finally satisfied the man—asked: “How was your meal today, Sir?” He replied: “It was good, but I see you’re back to serving only two slices of bread!”
Bread was important for this senior citizen… like it was for Elijah and the people of Israel.
In the first reading, Elijah—fleeing from Queen Jezebel—came to a broom tree, sat under it exhausted, and asked God to take his life. God had more in store for him and fed him with bread. Strengthened by that bread, Elijah walked forty days and nights (symbolizing a life span) to Horeb. God gave him bread for his journey.
In the gospel, the people—concerned only about material bread—follow Jesus even after he has satiated their physical hunger. He tells them there are other hungers which he alone can satiate. He is the bread of life that sustains them on their journey of earthly life and to eternal life.
Bread is vital for us. God knows the journey that each of us travels. He knows that, like Elijah, we often must flee from forces that seek to destroy us: addictions and sicknesses, materialism, the pressures and pretensions of a godless society. He knows that often that, like Elijah, we want to say: “This is enough.” God sustains us and nourishes us with bread for our journeys.
In moments of “exhaustion” when I say “this is enough”, will I allow God to touch me and strengthen me? Will I eat the bread of life and journey to my Horeb?
Questions to Ponder
Reflect on some (or all) of the following questions:
Reading 1: In this reading, sometimes I am Elijah and sometimes I am the hearth cake. Let me think of times in my life when I wanted to cry “enough”! Did help come? How? Let me list some ways I can be the “hearth cake” for someone in need.
Reading 2: How could I get better at “being an imitator of God?”
Gospel: Do I murmur against God when I do not understand his ways?
What effect does the Eucharist have in my life? How can I give of myself for the world?
The Creed
Prayer of the Faithful
L: We bring before the Lord the needs of his people and the hungers of the whole world, and pray: Lord, hear our prayer.
R: For the Church: that we may find nourishment in Christ, the Bread of Life, for our daily journey and the fulfilment for all the hungers of our hearts, we pray…
R: For the Pope, bishops, and priests: that they may keep their eyes fixed on Christ, follow him with unwavering commitment, and sustain their people, we pray…
R: For leaders of nations: that they may provide for the necessities for all people, we pray…
R: For those who are discouraged and for those wounded in life: that we may sustain and strengthen them, we pray…
R: For all who have died, especially due to violence and disaster: that they may share in the fullness of eternal life to which the Bread of Life introduced them, we pray…
R: For ourselves: that we may be open to the vision God holds for us and that we may rely upon him in our trials, struggles, and doubts, we pray…
L: God our Father, when confronted with our miseries and those of the people around us, we feel small and powerless. Strengthen us through Jesus, whom you sent to us as the bread of life. Make our hearts be compassionate, our love warm and deep, and our service faithful and self-effacing. Through Christ our Lord.
A: Amen.
SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
The Lord’s Prayer
Spiritual Communion
A: Jesus, I know and believe in your real presence in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist. It is you I desire to love and receive above all things. As I am unable to receive your sacramental presence now, come and be with me in heart and soul. Let my entire self be united with you as I welcome you again and know your loving embrace. Amen.
Post Spiritual Communion Reflection
Lord,
like Elijah,
there are times when I want to cry out: “This is enough”!
It is you, Lord,
not a hearth cake,
that sustains me and gives me courage
to leave the broom tree and journey to Horeb.
Lord,
like the Jews who came to you,
I murmur against you
when I do not understand your ways and sayings.
May I believe
that you love me and give your life for me.
Help me to be a hearth cake and bread
for the people around me.
CONCLUDING RITE
Concluding Prayer
L: God, Father of life,
your Son Jesus is our living bread
come down from you to give life
to us and to our world.
Let him restore our strength and courage
as we journey with him through life.
Through Christ our Lord.
A: Amen.
Blessing
L: The Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and lead us to everlasting life.
A: Amen.
L: Go in the peace of Christ.
A: Thanks be to God.
Conclude with a hymn. For instance:
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