DAILY CONSUMPTION OF THE WORD OF GOD SHOULD LEAD TO DAILY EXPERIENCE OF BAPTISM. THIS SHOULD TRIGGER HUNGER FOR THE EUCHARIST. THE EUCHARIST LEADS TO HOLY SPIRIT INVASION. THIS IS THE ABUNDANT LIFE OF JOHN 10: 10.

"Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. 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.” (John 6: 44 - 51).

Thursday 5th May 2022, of the 3rd Week of Easter.

What does Jesus mean that He is the bread of life?
Jesus  gives us Himself as our nourishment. What does the Church teach about the Bread of life?

"It [Eucharist] refers directly to the Bread of Life, the Body of Christ, the "medicine of immortality," without which we have no life within us......The Eucharist is our daily bread. The power belonging to this divine food makes it a bond of union. Its effect is then understood as unity, so that, gathered into his Body and made members of him, we may become what we receive.  This also is our daily bread." (CCC 2837)

In the Eucharist, we receive who we are, the Body of Christ. Now we must become what we receive, the Body of Christ, St Augustine teaches.

Jesus also says in Gospel of today:  "Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life." (John 6: 47).

Eternal life starts right here and right now with BELIEF in Jesus. In the Eucharist we are challenged to exercise the highest kind of faith in human experience. The bread you see looks, tastes and smells like ordinary bread. Once the words of consecration are pronounced over it, it becomes the Flesh of Jesus Christ. Same with the wine when it is consecrated, it becomes the Blood of Jesus. Can you now understand why most of His disciples abandoned Him when Jesus unveiled this doctrine.
Many protestants mock Catholics for believing in the True and Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Jesus Himself says "Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life." (John 6: 47).

5.5 Day 5 in May. Let us reflect on some attributes of Mary from the Litany of Loretto:

Mother of God
Mother of Christ
Mother of the Church
MOTHER of Mercy
Mother of divine grace
MOTHER of Hope

Do you understand what they mean? Google each attribute.

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HE WHO PRAYS MOST RECEIVES MOST. (ST ALPHONSUS LIGUORI, BISHOP & DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH).

"And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it." (John 14: 13 - 14).

Tuesday 3rd May 2022, in the 3rd Week of Easter is the feast of the Apostles Philip and James. Philip and James were among the 12 Apostles of Jesus. Philip introduced Bartholomew (Nathanael) to Jesus. According to tradition, he was crucified in Phrygia.
St James was the cousin of Jesus. He was the first Bishop of Jerusalem. He was thrown down from the terrace of the Temple and then stoned to death.

In our key Scripture for today, Jesus repeats for emphasis: "Ask anything of me in my name, I will do it."  Why the emphasis? According to Catholic tradition, most writers on the subject of Prayer would answer simply: Because Jesus means every word of His promises on Prayer. How about the man in the pew, how does he view the promises of Jesus on Prayer? A lot of scepticism.  Scepticism that is born of ignorance. They know neither the Scriptures or the power of God. (Cf Matthew 22: 29).
"God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?" (Numbers 23: 19).

How about me, the writer? Do I believe in the promises of Jesus on Prayer? Absolutely! I would not have answered with such certainty a decade ago. Investment in the study of Sacred Scripture and the writings of the saints on Prayer made the difference. There are two rich resources on Prayer by St Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church and St Claude de la Colombiere under the titles of UNIFORMITY WITH GOD'S WILL and TRUSTFUL SURRENDER TO DIVINE PROVIDENCE respectively. These two works are pamphlets that you can read several times in a day. Both will change your mind on Prayer.

How can we test Jesus' faithfulness to His promises on Prayer if we do not pray? My friend, there is only one way to prove this truth: JUST PRAY AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS!

"This is the [remarkable degree of] confidence which we [as believers are entitled to] have before Him: that if we ask anything according to His will, [that is, consistent with His plan and purpose] He hears us." (1 John 5: 4 AMP).

5.3 "Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided." (St Bernard of Clairvaux, Doctor of the Church).

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GOD IS THE EXPERT IN MAKING BAD FRIDAYS INTO GOOD FRIDAYS. GOD MAKES THE BLOOD OF MARTYRS THE SEED OF CHRISTIANITY.

"There broke out a severe persecution of the Church in Jerusalem, and all were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles......

Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word. Thus Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them. With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing. For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice, came out of many possessed people, and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured. There was great joy in that city." (Acts 8: 1....8).

Wednesday May 4th 2022 in the 3rd week of Easter.

The persecution that followed the martyrdom of Stephen scattered the first Christians everywhere. The death of Jesus and Stephen similar in a number of ways was no accident.  This persecution that followed the martyrdom of Stephen was preordained.

The circumstances of your call and answer to the ministry may not always be neat and foreseen by you. . Hurricane, flood , fire or persecution may chase you into the land of your ministry opportunity. It could be the providential downsizing of your company or the death of a spouse.
Whatever the circumstances, be prepared to say Yes to Jesus at the first call.

Philip, the Deacon fled Jerusalem and landed in Samaria. What did he do? He preached the Good News in his new home and converted a large number of people to Christ the Lord. (Cf Acts 8: 5 - 8).

Necessity is the mother of invention. The mother eagle shakes out the nest so that the complacent little eaglets will learn to fly and embrace their life's mission.

Be alert. Be vigilant. Jesus may come like a thief in the night.

5.4 "Him whom the heavens cannot contain, the womb of one woman [Mary] bore. She ruled our Ruler; she carried Him in whom we are; she gave milk to our Bread." - St. Augustine

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THIS IS THE WORK OF GOD. BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST. EVERYTHING ELSE WILL FOLLOW.

"Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.” So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.” (John 6: 22.... 29).

Monday 2nd May 2022, of the 3rd Week in the Easter Season is the feast of St Athanasius of Alexandria, Egypt (297 - 373) Bishop and Doctor of the Church.  Athanasius is rightly called the Father of Orthodoxy. Athanasius was a key light at the Council of Nicaea (325), where he defended vigorously that Jesus Christ is true God (100%) and true Man (100%). He defended this truth all his life and suffered much persecution from the Arians including several exiles. Athanasius' other great contribution to the early Church is the Life of St Anthony the Great, known also as St Anthony of the Desert or St Anthony of Egypt). Athanasius had personal acquaintance with St Anthony. The biography of the great Desert monk became the gold standard for monastic rules for the Church both in the East and the West.

Many people followed Jesus for food with the hope of money, healing and job.  They cared very little for the agenda of Jesus. Jesus told them: "Man does not live on bread alone. There is life for him in every word that comes from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4: 4).

Jesus expands on this teaching in our key Scripture for today. He says to the crowd:
"Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.” (John 6: 27).

What are the food that endures for eternal life? Consider faith, hope, charity and the Word of God. No one can purchase faith, hope and love.

“What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”  Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”

Jesus gave them an uncomplicated answer: Faith in Jesus whom God sent for the salvation of humanity. Faith is greater than gold and silver. Faith is imperishable.

5.2. “Woe to those who despise devotion to Mary! ... The soul cannot live without having recourse to Mary and recommending itself to her. He falls and is lost who does not have recourse to Mary.” (St Alphonsus Liguori).

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