So Jesus said to them,
“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.”

So they said to Jesus,
“Sir, give us this bread always.” 
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”

John 6: 32-35

Here are the complete readings for Tuesday, May 6, 2025.

(“Martyrdom of St. Stephen” Icon by Maxim Sheshukov)

The theologian Karl Rahner believed that humans, by our nature, are self-transcendent beings. We seek out the mysteries of life beyond what we can sense even if we are not always conscious of doing so. What are we really searching for, on a fundamental level? Perhaps it is our personal quest for meaning in this present time. This can be complicated, especially when we dare to ask these existential questions while simultaneously struggling with our own self-doubt and the awareness of suffering around us. In the midst of this uncertainty, Jesus calls us to turn towards God, who has been with us the whole time. As he talks about being the bread of life, Jesus does not promise an answer to our questions. Instead, he tells us that the fruit of his nourishment is belief. It is the belief that we are loved, and that we belong here today, and that we will then become still greater reflections of who we are meant to be, whatever the circumstances. Hopefully we then come to the understanding that the gift of belief is not meant to be kept secret or guarded, it is meant to be broken open and shared.

Gradually,
you will realize
that the cost of your discipleship
is your very life,
freely consecrated to God
and offered to the world
as a sign of God’s love and care. – The Fundamental Principles of the Xaverian Brothers

God, Here I am, alive right here and now. Thank you for this incredible gift. Help me focus on the here and now so that I may then have a better appreciation for the past and foresight for the future. You are ever present to us. May we embrace your presence so that we can share the gift of ourselves.

Amen