Continuous conversion

"Discipleship with Jesus calls for continuous conversion. Continuous."

Sr. Melannie Svoboda, Give Us This Day

 

I spent some lovely time yesterday connecting the dots of the day's three readings and this one sentence from Sr. Melannie said it all to me.  The first reading (Exodus 16:2-4,12-15) with the Israelites grumbling to Moses about needing food, leads to God providing manna for them each day.  The Gospel reading (John 6:24-35) where Jesus identifies himself as the "Bread of Life" is a continued manifestation of God nourishing the people. The second reading, Paul's letter to the Ephesians (Ephesians 4:17, 20-24) ties it all together for me. "You should put away the old self of your former way of life...and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self."  As followers of Jesus we are constantly called to be new selves...constantly called to conversion.  One and done doesn't work for discipleship. We are called each day to choose to follow Jesus; to convert to a new way of life. And the connection between the bread of heaven and our conversion? The Bread of Life--Jesus--gives us the nourishment we need for this daily task of conversion. Just like the manna for the Israelites, Jesus in the Eucharist gives us the spiritual food we need to get out there do it all for Jesus each day. New day. Continuous conversion. Bread of Life.  And suddenly, it's Monday. Love, heidi