6 June 2027 · Syro-Malankara Rite
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“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
Jesus says: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty… Anyone who comes to me I will never drive away… This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.” And: “No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me.” Faith itself is a gift: the Father draws, the Spirit moves the heart.
In the evening Gospel Jesus is rejected in his own town: “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown, and among their own kin, and in their own house.” Yet he does not stop. He sends the Twelve two by two, with authority over unclean spirits. “So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.” The mission of the Church begins in weakness and is carried by the Spirit's power.
In the book of Daniel three young men stand before a golden statue and a blazing furnace. They say to the king: “If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire and out of your hand, O king, let him deliver us. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up.” This is faith that does not bargain: God first, whatever happens.
St Paul writes: “So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith… May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ… a new creation is everything!” In Baptism we became a new creation; the bread of life keeps us alive as God's new people.
Theme: “Sent two by two, fed by the Bread of Life.”
Rejected in his hometown, Jesus does not stop; he sends the Twelve two by two. In John he says: “I am the bread of life.” The three young men in Daniel show the courage of faith that refuses idols.
“Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat!” Isaiah 55:1
“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.”” John 6:35
Apply: Prepare well for your next Holy Communion with a few minutes of silent prayer.
“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up the other.” Ecclesiastes 4:9–10
“So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent. They cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them.” Mark 6:12–13
Apply: Visit a sick or lonely person this week with a family member or friend.
“If our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire … let him deliver us. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods and we will not worship the golden statue that you have set up.” Daniel 3:17–18
“May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14
Apply: Name one modern “golden statue” (money, status, screens) and refuse to bow to it this week.
Fed by Christ, sent together, faithful to the end: this is the Church after Pentecost.
Let us come to the Bread of Life and go out to share it.
Take-home resolution: Pray for the Syro-Malankara Church on the anniversary of its hierarchy (11 June 1932).
Dear brothers and sisters, Jesus went to his own town and was rejected. “Prophets are not without honor, except in their hometown.” Did he give up? No. He called the Twelve and sent them out two by two. They preached repentance, cast out demons, and anointed the sick with oil. The mission of the Church began with rejection, and went on in the power of God.
In the Gospel of John Jesus says: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry… anyone who comes to me I will never drive away.” What a promise! No sinner who comes to him is turned away. And he says: “No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father.” If you are here today, the Father has drawn you.
In the book of Daniel three young men refuse to worship the golden statue. They say: our God can save us from the fire; “but if not,” we still will not worship your gods. This is mature faith. It does not say “God, if you give me this, I will believe.” It says “God, whatever happens, I belong to you.” Our Malankara Church, born in 1930 with Mar Ivanios, knows this faith: they left property and buildings, but kept communion.
St Paul says: let us do good to all, and boast only in the Cross; what matters is a new creation. This week, go two by two: visit a sick or lonely person with someone from your family. And come often to the bread of life. Amen.
Children, Jesus sent his friends out two by two, like partners, to tell people about God and to help sick people.
In the Bible, three brave young men would not bow to a golden statue, even when the king was angry. They loved God more than anything!
Jesus says: “I am the bread of life.” Who can you visit this week with your mum, dad or friend?
Lord Jesus, bread of life, draw us to yourself and never drive us away. Make us faithful like the three young men in the furnace, send us two by two to heal and proclaim repentance, and make us a new creation for the good of all. Amen.