First Reading (Acts 7,51-8,1a)
Reading of the Acts of the Apostles.
In those days, Stephen said to the people, the elders and the teachers of the law: “You hard-headed men, insensitive and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resisted the Holy Spirit and as your parents acted, so do you! Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who announced the coming of the Righteous One, of whom you have now become traitors and murderers. You received the Law through angels, and you did not observe it!”
Upon hearing these words, they became enraged and gnashed their teeth at Stephen. Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “I see heaven opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
But they, shouting loudly and covering their ears, rushed together against Stephen; They dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. The witnesses left their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning him, Stephen cried out, saying, “Lord Jesus, welcome my spirit.” Bending his knees, he cried out in a strong voice, “Lord, do not condemn them for this sin.” And as he said this, he died. Saulo was one of those who approved the execution of Stephen.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (John 6,30-35)
— Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, the crowd asked Jesus: What sign do you perform, so that we can see and believe in you? What works do you do? Our fathers ate manna in the wilderness, as it is written in Scripture: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”
Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread that came from heaven. It is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
Then they asked: “Lord, always give us this bread”. Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, I bring you a message that connects directly to our daily experiences, as we will address a fundamental topic in our lives: our relationship with God and the search for true spiritual satisfaction.
How many times do we find ourselves searching for something to fill the void in our hearts? We seek satisfaction in riches, success, fleeting relationships and many other ephemeral things. However, as today’s biblical passage reminds us, it is only in God that we find true fullness.
In the first reading of the Acts of the Apostles, we see the example of Stephen, a man filled with the Holy Spirit. He faced opposition and persecution because of his faith, but he remained steadfast. In the face of his accusers, Stephen boldly proclaimed the truth, confronting them with his harsh words: “You stiff-necked men, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit!” (Acts 7:51).
These words resonate in our hearts today as we too are called to examine our own lives and question whether we are open to the voice of the Holy Spirit. How many times have we resisted his guidance, preferring to follow our own selfish paths? It is a reminder that we need to constantly humble ourselves before God, recognizing that only He can truly satisfy us.
And the Gospel of John reveals to us Jesus’ answer to those who questioned Him: “What miracles do You perform that we may see and believe in You? What work do You perform? Our fathers ate manna in the desert, as it is in the Scripture: He gave them the eat the bread from heaven” (John 6:30-31). And Jesus answers them: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in Me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35).
These words of Jesus are profound and full of meaning. It compares to the manna that God gave to the Israelites in the desert, but it goes further, revealing Himself as the bread of life. Just as manna sustained the people of Israel physically, Jesus came to feed us spiritually. It is the food that truly satisfies our hunger and thirst, filling the voids in our hearts.
As we reflect on these passages, we are challenged to examine our own lives and seek a deeper relationship with God. How often do we seek satisfaction in temporal things, while Jesus calls us to find Him as the true sustenance of our souls? He invites us to open our hearts and give ourselves completely to Him.
Imagine a hungry person desperately looking for food. She can have all the money in the world, but if she doesn’t eat, she will remain hungry and weak. In the same way, we can have all the pleasures and achievements of this world, but until we feed on the bread of life, we will remain thirsty and dissatisfied.
Dear brothers and sisters, today’s message is clear: only in Jesus do we find true satisfaction. Only in His unconditional love, His abundant grace, and His infinite mercy do we find the fullness of life we so desire.
Therefore, I invite each of you to take a break from your busy lives and reflect on how you are seeking fulfillment. It is time to abandon the ephemeral things of this world and turn our gaze to Jesus, the bread of life. He calls us to draw closer to Him, to immerse ourselves in His Word, to nourish ourselves with the Eucharist and to give ourselves completely to Him.
When we surrender to Jesus and place Him at the center of our lives, we discover that we not only find satisfaction, but also true purpose and meaning. He transforms our lives and enables us to live according to his teachings.
I want to share with you a story that illustrates this truth. There was a woman named Maria who spent much of her life seeking satisfaction and fulfillment in worldly pleasures. She sought joy in parties, fleeting relationships and the incessant search for material wealth. However, even with all these achievements, she felt an inner emptiness that she could not fill.
One day, Mary decided to visit a local church, where she heard a sermon about the love and grace of Jesus. She was deeply touched by those words and decided to give herself to Him with all her heart. Mary began reading the Bible, seeking fellowship with other Christians, and participating in the Eucharist regularly.
As Mary grew closer to Jesus, she began to experience an inner transformation. The emptiness in her heart was filled with the peace of God, and the search for satisfaction was replaced with a deep joy that can only come from Him. Mary discovered that true satisfaction is not in the things of this world, but in the presence of Jesus in her life.
Dear brothers and sisters, Mary’s story is a powerful reminder that the search for true satisfaction can only be found in Jesus. He invites us to abandon the illusions of the world and turn to Him as the only path to fullness of life.
As I conclude this homily, I want to encourage you to reflect on how the lessons from these biblical passages apply to your everyday lives. How have you sought satisfaction? Where have you placed your hope and confidence?
Today, Jesus offers you His love, His grace and His transforming presence. He invites them to draw closer to Him, to give themselves completely and to find true satisfaction in His person.
May each of you experience the fullness of life that can only be found in Jesus. May you be nourished by the bread of life and satisfied by the living water He offers. May you find strength and comfort in His constant presence in the midst of life’s struggles and challenges.
And finally, may you be motivated to live according to the teachings of Scripture, sharing the love of Jesus with others and seeking true satisfaction in his presence.
May God’s grace accompany you on your spiritual journey and may you find lasting joy and fulfillment in Jesus, the bread of life.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
