Reflection for April 23 Thursday of the Third Week of Easter: John 6:44-51

Gospel: John 6:44-51

Jesus said to the crowds: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. It is written in the prophets: They shall all be taught by God.  

Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. 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.”

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Reflection:

Are we afraid to die?

At some point in our lives, we may quietly ask ourselves this question: Are we afraid to die? Many of us carry this fear in our hearts. Perhaps it is because we feel unprepared. We still hold on to our plans, our responsibilities, and the many things of this world that we believe we must first accomplish.

Yet deep within, we know that life is uncertain. At a time we do not expect, we will be called to leave this world. And when that moment comes, what will matter most is not what we have achieved, but who we have allowed to dwell within us.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus lovingly offers us an answer to our fear. He gives us Himself as the Living Bread in Holy Communion. This is not just a symbol, but His very presence—offered to nourish our souls, strengthen our hearts, and prepare us for eternal life. The same Jesus whom we receive is also brought to the sick and the weak, reminding us that His love reaches us wherever we are.

When we come to Him and receive Him with reverence, something beautiful happens within us. He slowly forms us, transforms us, and fills us with a peace that the world cannot give. The fear of death begins to lose its hold on us, because we realize that to be with Jesus is to have life that never ends.

This is why we are not meant to keep this gift to ourselves. We are called to gently invite others—to walk with us, to come to Holy Mass, and to encounter Jesus personally. For when we bring others closer to Him, we become instruments of His grace, helping them discover the same hope and courage we are receiving.

Are we allowing Jesus to prepare our hearts for eternal life? And who among those around us is waiting for our invitation to come and encounter Him?—Marino J. Dasmarinas