Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

I am the good shepherd,
my sheep listen to my voice,
and they become
one flock and one fold.
.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

John 6,44-51

'No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me, and I will raise that person up on the last day. It is written in the prophets: They will all be taught by God; everyone who has listened to the Father, and learnt from him, comes to me. Not that anybody has seen the Father, except him who has his being from God: he has seen the Father. In all truth I tell you, everyone who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate manna in the desert and they are dead; but this is the bread which comes down from heaven, so that a person may eat it and not die. I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world.'

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

I give you a new commandment,
that you love one another.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Faith is not the fruit of human effort, even if striving to practice a virtuous and good life. Faith has its beginning in God; Jesus says: "No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father." There are many ways of this itinerary towards Jesus; however all of them require a real meeting with Jesus. The free quotation that Jesus makes of the prophet Isaiah (54:13): "and they all shall be taught by the Lord," recalls the primacy of listening in Christian faith. Jesus suggests a preferred path. That of an attentive and open listening to his Word. From the Word of God springs an attractive force: the pages of the Bible broaden our minds and warm our hearts; they make us join the great plan of God on the world; they allow us to participate to the saving action of God in the world. This is the meaning of what Jesus says: "Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me." It may seem difficult to think that God draws us to Him through the weakness of Christian preaching. In reality, we all know the limitations and weaknesses of human things. It is much better to trust in a God who chose the weak words of a people, the Christian one, that manifest a story of love that has continued for several centuries. There is no need for great efforts in order to understand God's love for us. In order to make it easier for us, God sent His own Son who revealed to us his merciful face.