Gospel: April 23, 2026

April 23, 2026 (Thursday)

3rd Week of Easter

Psalter: Week 3 (White/Red)

St. Adalbert, bishop & martyr

St. George, martyr

Ps 66:8-9, 16-17, 20

Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.

1st Reading: Acts 8:26-40

Gospel: John 6:44-51

No one can come to me unless he is drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise him up on the last day. It has been written in the Prophets: They shall all be taught by God. So whoever listens and learns from the Father comes to me.

For no one has seen the Father except the One who comes from God; he has seen the Father. Truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Though your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, they died. But here you have the bread from heaven, so that you may eat of it, and not die.

I am the living bread from heaven; whoever eats of this bread will live forever. The bread I shall give is my flesh, and I will give it for the life of the world.”

Reflection:

A life anchored in Christ

Jesus emphasizes his divine mission by stating, “No one can come to me unless he is drawn by the Father who sent me,” and proclaiming, “I am the bread of life.” He notes that the bread he offers is not like the manna that temporarily sustained the Israelites in the wilderness but a more excellent gift—Himself, the living bread that grants eternal life to all who believe. This passage highlights Jesus as the ultimate source of spiritual nourishment and the path to everlasting life. This truth encourages us to deepen our reliance on Jesus. It challenges us to recognize that no earthly pursuit, possession, or relationship can truly satisfy the longings of our souls. True fulfillment comes only from a life anchored in Christ, nurtured by His Word, and sustained by His love.

This also calls us to a more profound sense of mission—to share the “living bread” with others, offering them the hope, grace, and eternal life that flow from faith in Jesus, the Bread of Life.