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In the New Testament, there are many short sentences which succinctly sum up most of our Catholic doctrine by focusing on an important point of the mystery of salvation. Thus, Paul sometimes sums up everything in his "creed": "Jesus is Lord." Today we hear John sum up the doctrine of his Gospel and his First Letter in the words: "God loved the world in this particular way that he gave his only Son."
John usually says God the Father "sent" Jesus, but here he uses the word "gave" which emphasizes the notion of gift. Jesus is God the Father's gift to the world, to save us from our sins. This notion of "gift" recurs especially in the Last Supper when Jesus gave the bread and wine to his disciples and explained the mystical meaning of this gesture: "This is my body," "This is the cup of my blood." In the sacrament of the Eucharist, Jesus added a new level of mystery to the Father's gift: He gave us the gift of Himself, His own life, His holiness, His joy. Hence, the Eucharist is the sacrament of love.
Father in Heaven, we thank You and praise You for the gift of Your Son. Lord Jesus, deepen our faith so that we may appreciate more deeply the gift of Yourself to us in the Eucharist.
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DAILY OFFERING
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Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.
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PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
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INTENTION
That the Lord may bless the farmers' work with an abundant harvest and sensitize the richer populations to the drama of hunger in the world.
Elaboration
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