Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Thursday of the third week of Easter, April 23rd, 2026

Delivered by Samuel Ivan Gunarta from the Parish of Mary of All Nations in the Diocese of Bogor, Indonesia. Acts of the Apostles 8: 26-40; Rs psalm 66: 8-9.16-17.20; John 6: 44-51.THE BREAD OF LIFE IS THE SWEET BREAD The theme for our meditation today is: Bread of Life isthe Sweet Bread. In a fish pond, there were two small goldfish who werediscussing on certain matter regarding their lives within the pond. Usuallythey talk a little longer after breakfast. The food for their breakfast isleftover bread bought by the owner of fish pond from the bakery. The smallerfish said to its bigger friend: "I am always given bread from the biggestfish, but the bread is bitter, even though the portion is big. But if the breadis from you, even though small, it's sweet." Its friend replied: "Why is it bitter? It cannotbe, because all the bread are sweet!" The small fish answered,"Because that biggest fish gives bread but with threat, that if I do notsupport it, I will be like the bread and a delicious food for it. It's betterthe bread that you give, after all, we remain friends and we in fact love eachother. So the bread we eat is really the sweet bread." As we are drawn to the "bread of life" ofJesus Christ, we will surely have its sweetness which is extraordinary. Thebread eaten by the fish will disappear and finish one day because it is thething of this earth. But the bread of life from Jesus Christ will never finishand its sweetness is about all the graces given freely to us. This is actuallyhis power that gives life to every one of us both now and in the future. St. Philip, a disciple of Jesus and a true servant ofthe Lord who served as deacon of the early Church had directly eaten the Breadof Life of Jesus Christ, who in the today's Gospel says: I am the bread of lifethat has come down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will liveforever." Philip had lived with Jesus the bread of life, until the momenthe met the eunuch from Ethiopia, then he explained the content of thescriptures to him and baptized this non believer who had visited Jerusalem. Philip moved from Jesus Christ to the streets,boundaries, and corners of life by bringing the graces of the bread of life,the Lord Jesus Christ himself. He worked together with the apostles, disciples,other followers of Christ, including you and me. The Ethiopian eunuch movedfrom the periphery to the center when he chanced to taste the bread of life,which is Jesus Christ our Lord. Many other people, maybe those known to you are alsomoving towards the center, in order to meet Jesus Christ and receive the gracesfrom Him. It's a wonderful experience, when they are heading to Jesus, theyfind Jesus Christ who in fact dwells in you or me. So they no longer need tolook for other forms and types of bread, other than the Bread of Life of JesusChrist, the Son of God.Letus pray together. In the name of the Father ... O Lord Jesus Christ, we are sograteful because the bread of life from You nourishes and strengthens us tothis day. Help us so that our life and work are always graced from this breadwhich gives us sustenance in this world and the hope for a life everlasting.Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit ... In the name ofthe Father ...