
I am the bread of life - 22-04-2026
Wednesday of the Third week of Easter
First Reading
Acts 8,1b-8.
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.
Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him.
Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the church;
entering house after house and dragging out men and women,
he handed them over for imprisonment.
Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word.
Thus Philip went down to (the) city of Samaria
and proclaimed the Messiah 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.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 66(65),1-3a.4-5.6-7a.
Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,
sing praise to the glory of his name;
proclaim his glorious praise.
Say to God, “How tremendous are your deeds!”
“Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you,
sing praise to your name!”
Come and see the works of God,
his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam.
He has changed the sea into dry land;
through the river they passed on foot;
therefore let us rejoice in him.
He rules by his might forever.
Gospel
John 6,35-40.
Jesus said to the crowds, "I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.
But I told you that although you have seen (me), you do not believe.
Everything that the Father gives me will come to me,
and I will not reject anyone who comes to me,
because I came down from heaven not to do my own will
but the will of the one who sent me.
And this is the will of the one who sent me,
that I should not lose anything of what he gave me,
but that I should raise it on the last day.
For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son
and believes in him may have eternal life,
and I shall raise him on the last day."
YOUCAT Reflection
523 Why does man not live on bread alone?
"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Mt 4,4, citing Deut 8,3).
This passage of Scripture reminds us that men have a spiritual hunger that cannot be satisfied by material means. One can die for lack of bread, but one can also die because one has received bread alone. In a profound sense we are nourished by the one who has "the words of eternal life" (Jn 6,68) and a food that does not perish (Jn 6,27), the Holy Eucharist.
