Sunday Micro Retreat – August 4, 2024

As you begin your time of reflection, try to realize that you are standing on holy ground and in the presence of God, who wants to talk to you and listen to you.

Make the Sign of the Cross. The Holy Spirit is opening your heart and mind so the Word of God that you are about to read can flourish in you for God's glory. Pray that you continue to work with his grace. Let the words or your prayer flow from your mind through your heart. Try to "feel" what you are saying.

Is there anything you would like to ask God now? What graces does your heart desire?
Talk to God about it.

Now read the Sunday's Gospel:
When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were at the place where Jesus had given the bread, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” Then they said to Jesus, “What must we do to perform the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 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, 24-35)

The Word of God touches everyone differently. If there is anything that really stood out for you in this reading, meditate on it. Go to the depths of your heart and listen to what God is trying to say to you.

Next, let's spend some time reflecting on the following points:

1. The crowd went to great lengths to find Jesus after He fed them. Reflect on your own spiritual journey. What lengths have you gone to in your search for Jesus or spiritual fulfillment?Why do you think the crowd was so eager to find Jesus after the miracle of the loaves? How does this reflect our own motivations in seeking Jesus?
   
2. Jesus pointed out that the crowd was seeking Him not because of the signs, but because they ate their fill of the loaves. What are some of the reasons you seek Jesus? Are they purely spiritual, or do they sometimes include physical or material desires?How can you shift your focus from seeking temporary, perishable benefits to seeking eternal, spiritual nourishment?
   
3. Jesus identifies Himself as the “bread of life” that gives eternal satisfaction. What does it mean to you that Jesus is the bread of life? In what ways do you experience spiritual hunger and thirst? How can believing in Jesus satisfy those deep longings?
   
4. Jesus tells the crowd to work for the food that endures for eternal life. What do you think Jesus means by this "eternal food"?Reflect on your daily activities and priorities. How much of your effort is directed towards "food that perishes" versus "food that endures for eternal life"? How can you adjust your focus?
   
5. How can you apply Jesus' teaching about seeking eternal food in your daily life? What practical steps can you take to prioritize spiritual growth and nourishment?What changes can you make to ensure that your actions and decisions are aligned with seeking the bread of life that Jesus offers?
   

It is good to keep a personal journal where reflections that stood out for you are recorded.
The outcome of those Sunday Micro Retreats is good material that you can talk about in your spiritual direction.