Communion of Saints - Two

We began this series on the Communion of Saints by looking at the notion of Communion; that there is a serious difference between being a practitioner of religion and living in the "Communion of the Faithful". It's the difference between existing and living. Rocks exist, but plants live; and everything that lives must have a sources for its life. This connection that living things have with their source of life is a communion of life. If the connection between this life-source, this communion, is broken, all life ceases. 

Communion is Life in the Spirit Perhaps the most compelling rendering of this notion is given by Jesus, in chapter six of John's gospel, where Jesus declares, “I am the Bread of Life.”

Chapter six is divided into three parts; 

• PART 1: vs. 1-15 ... feeding the five thousand people.
• PART 2: vs. 16-24 ... disciples dark night on the sea, Jesus walking on the sea.
• PART 3: vs. 25-71 ... discourse on the Bread of Life.

Each of these parts will now be the focus for reflection and prayer.

REFLECTION & PRAYER - Part One

Having a source of food is essential for all living beings. Everyone knows this fact. Jesus will begin with this common understanding to show that this is equally true for the spiritual life.

When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

Much of life is spent trying to put food on the table. People have evolved from little bands of hunter-gathers into complex communal societies, pooling their resources to maximize the process of putting food on the table. A large crowd has gathered. They are hungry to hear the word Jesus is teaching them, even to the point of forgetting their need for food. 

Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”

Jesus begins now to reveal how he and his "communion" of followers will be the source of the "Bread of Life", for the people.

POINTS TO CONSIDER

• Consider what constitutes the priorities of our societies today.
• Inequality in societies - the have's vs. the have-not's.
• What are my priorities - 

• Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. Mtt. 6:19

•  No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. Mtt. 6:24

• Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Mtt. 6:25 

• So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness,* and all these things will be given you besides. Mtt. 31-33 

Praying On a Passage of Scripture PLACE: choosing a place with a measure of quiet and solitude. PRESENCE: entering this prayer expecting to be guided by Grace. PETITION: asking for the graces that will make this prayer fruitful. PASSAGE: preparing a passage of scripture for reflection. PRAYER: entering the passage, looking, listening, imagining you are there, focusing on various persons, collecting your thoughts, feelings, reaction.  PRAISE and thanks: closing with a prayer formed in your own words, as one speaking face to face to another; expressing your gratitude for the blessings and guidance received in this prayer time.