Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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Holy Qurbana—Foretaste of the Kingdom of God

 

Today’s Bible text: St. John 6:26-35

 

Key Verse: “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. — John 6:26-35

DEVOTION

In John 6:26-35, Jesus speaks to the crowd after performing the miracle of feeding the five thousand. They come to Him seeking more bread, but He challenges their motives, and redirects their focus from physical sustenance to spiritual nourishment that He only can provide. The bread He offers is not like the manna given to the Israelites in the wilderness (Jn. 6:35), which was temporary. In the Holy Communion, we partake in Christ Himself, receiving His grace and life into our souls. Just as bread and wine sustain our physical bodies, Christ's body and blood sustain us spiritually. They are the means by which we are united with Him and with one another in His body.

The act of partaking in Holy Communion is also a foretaste of the great banquet we will experience in the Kingdom of God. The Eucharist points us toward this future reality (Mt. 8:11). Every time we share in this meal, we are reminded that one day, we will sit at the table with Christ Himself in the eternal banquet. John 6:27 is a call to hunger for more than the temporary satisfactions of this world. In our busy lives, we often chase after things that ultimately leave us empty. The table of Holy Communion, reminds two things; ‘God alone can satisfy all our needs’, and ‘Satisfaction is in Christ Alone.’ Jesus is the bread of life, the one who sustains us in this life and the next.

As we partake in Holy Communion, we are living in the light of the Kingdom to come. We are called to live as people who have tasted the goodness of God and now seek to share that goodness with others. Just as Christ offers Himself to us in the Eucharist, we are called to offer ourselves in service to the world. Let’s remember that this is not a ritual but a profound encounter with the living Christ, who is the bread of Life

PRAYER

Dear God, help us come with hearts hungry for You and may we be filled with Your Grace, ready to live as citizens of the Kingdom, sharing the love and light of Christ with the world. Amen


THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

Holy Communion is not mere ritual, but a deep encounter with the living Christ


Mrs. Nissy Cherian
Statan Island Mar Thoma Church

Christian Education Forum
Diocese of North America of the Mar Thoma Church

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