Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-

 

Holy Qurbana: The Food for Eternal Life

Bible Reading:    St. John 6:47-58

Key verse: "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day." – St. John 6:54

DEVOTION

In our spiritual journey, we often seek something that can sustain us, nourish us, and provide a deep sense of connection to the divine. The Gospel of John, in the profound words of Jesus, presents us with this ultimate nourishment: His own body and blood, offered as the food for eternal life. This passage from John 6 is not merely a metaphor; it's a profound truth about the Holy Qurbana, the Divine Liturgy that is at the heart of our worship.
Jesus speaks of a food that is unlike any other. While our physical bodies require bread and water to survive, our spiritual lives need a different kind of sustenance. 
He tells us, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. (V 51)" 
This is a direct invitation to partake in His divine nature, to be so united with Him that His life becomes our life. The Holy Qurbana is the moment when we respond to this invitation. It is our response to the meal-banquet that the Lord has prepared for us. It is the sacred act where bread and wine are consecrated to become the very body and blood of our Lord, and as we receive them, we are promised not just temporary comfort but eternal life. 
Through this sacrament, we are connected to the very source of life, and we are given the strength to overcome our weaknesses and live a life that reflects His grace. Through Holy Qurbana, we enjoy Christ’ companionship and we are encouraged to love God and to love our fellow beings. In this sense, Holy Qurbana is not only a divine banquet but it also presents to us a foretaste of the kingdom of heaven.
 

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of the Holy Qurbana. May we always approach this divine banquet with reverence and a hunger for your presence, so that we may live eternally with you, Amen.
 

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

The Holy Qurbana is not just a ritual; it is a communion and call to live with the Living God.


Rev. Reti John Skariah
St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Popular posts from this blog

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
  Constant, patient and welcoming love of God   St. Luke 15: 11-32  V.21: And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ The parable of the ‘Prodigal son’ is one of the most frequently quoted parables that Jesus told His disciples. The parable contains the rich mine of human virtues and emotions. This parable is lived and re-lived in progressing civilizations from time immemorial and continuing. It brings out in vivid detail the pathetic depth of human sinfulness and the glorious heights of God’s forgiveness.      As a story of human nature, fathers are generally merciful to their children in any circumstance. They are very protective and are eager to provide for and secure the lives of their offspring. Jesus is telling this parable to underscore the superlative love of God to His children. The nature of such love is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 7:11. Humankind wh...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
PRIESTHOOD: THE ANOINTED MINISTRY Exodus 40:12-16 Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the Tent of Meeting... wash them with water. Then dress Aaron in the sacred garments, anoint him and consecrate him so he may serve me as priest (Exodus 40: 12-13). Priesthood among the people of God was a divine command and initiation. God wanted some people to be separated for the special ministry among his people. God appointed Aaron and his descendants to take up this kind of ministry among the people of God. Priests are always separated and appointed as channels that connect God with his people. All throughout the history of Israel, priests played an important role in connecting people with God and to lead and guide them in the statutes of God. But there are incidents in the Bible where the priests failed in their duties and that led the people to go away from God. So the priests have a special and significant ministry to perform in this world among his people. Two important things...
Read more

Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

-
Revelation for Liberation Acts 27:18-26 Sherine Thomas Long Island MTC, NY 20  When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest raged, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. “After winter comes the summer.  After night comes the dawn.  And after every storm, there comes clear open skies” so said a Scottish clergyman from the 1600s. It’s been said, that hope can sometimes be the most dangerous weapon.  However, it’s sometimes the hardest weapon to carry when you’re living with the loss of a loved one, something that almost feels like a terrible nightmare that’ll never go away.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry when day in and day out no one seems to hear or see those tears that are shed or silent cries that are made during a heartfelt prayer. It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you see your loved one lying on that hospital bed.  It’s a weapon difficult to carry as you search and seek out answers to tel...
Read more