Daily Devotion

This daily devotion is based on the Morning Office. It comes with selected readings from the appointed Psalm and another Scripture text, accompanied by reflections and prayers. This devotion is suitable for personal and family devotions. It will be best to both read and listen. The link to the entire Morning Office today is provided at the end of each devotion. This project started on Ash Wednesday, 2025 and are offered for weekdays only. More info here.

18th March – Feed On Me

Audio

Prepare

Today is Tuesday, 18th of March, and the fourteenth day of Lent. Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  We begin by praying the collect for today:

Almighty God,
you show to those who are in error the light of your truth, 
that they may return to the way of righteousness:
grant to us who are admitted into the fellowship of Christ’s religion, 
that they may reject those things that are contrary to their profession, 
and follow all such things that are agreeable to the same;
through our Lord Jesus Christ, 
who is alive and reigns with you, 
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

Psalm Reading

We read Psalm 50, verses 7-15. 

⁷ “Hear, O my people, and I will speak;
    O Israel, I will testify against you.
    I am God, your God.
⁸ Not for your sacrifices do I rebuke you;
    your burnt offerings are continually before me.
⁹ I will not accept a bull from your house
    or goats from your folds.
¹⁰ For every beast of the forest is mine,
    the cattle on a thousand hills.
¹¹ I know all the birds of the hills,
    and all that moves in the field is mine.

¹² “If I were hungry, I would not tell you,
    for the world and its fullness are mine.
¹³ Do I eat the flesh of bulls
    or drink the blood of goats?
¹⁴ Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, 
    and perform your vows to the Most High,
¹⁵ and call upon me in the day of trouble;
    I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me.”

Scripture Reading

The Scripture reading for today is John 6:52-59:

⁵²The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” ⁵³So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. ⁵⁵For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. ⁵⁶Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. ⁵⁷As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever feeds on me, he also will live because of me. ⁵⁸This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like the bread the fathers ate, and died. Whoever feeds on this bread will live forever.” ⁵⁹Jesus said these things in the synagogue, as he taught at Capernaum.

Prayer/Reflection

For a few days in a row now, our readings have been on the subject of food.  There was the problem of ‘no food’ for the five thousand. Then there was ‘not enough food’ when just 5 loaves and 2 fishes were available. There was also ‘too much food’ in the form of 12 baskets full of leftovers. Beyond this, there was food that brings life. If anyone eats of this [living bread that came down from heaven], he will live forever. –  And there is food that brings death – “Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.”

In today’s reading, Jesus uses a different word now for the food he offers – “my flesh is true food…” (v. 55a).  Jesus also states the consequence of eating this food – “Whoever feeds on my flesh … has eternal life” (v.54a) – as well as the consequence of not eating this food – “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man…, you have no life in you.” (v.53b).  He ends his menu introduction with this claim – “Whoever feeds on my flesh … abides in me, and I in him.” (v. 56).

Interestingly, our Psalmist today also talks about food and corrected the People of God on their misconception – as if it were God who was hungry and needed to feed on the animal sacrifices the people were instructed to make.  No, it was the People of God, now including you and I, who were and are hungry.  What then is the remedy for our hunger?  According to the Psalmist – “a sacrifice of thanksgiving” (v.14).

The word “Eucharist” came from the Greek noun εὐχαριστία (eucharistia) and it means “thanksgiving”.   Jesus gave thanks before he broke bread to feed the five thousand (John 6:11). Jesus gave thanks before he broke bread with the Twelve at the Last Supper. (Luke 22:19). And we are instructed by St. Paul to give thanks likewise each time we partake of the Communion (1 Cor 11:23-24).

The Lord’s Supper is a powerful and visceral reminder of our hunger, and Jesus’ offer of Himself to be our food, satisfying that hunger in us.

Will you feed on Him in your hearts by faith with thanksgiving?

Collect

As we bring this time of devotion to a close, may I invite you to share in the words of the Prayer of Humble Access. You can also listen to a sung version of this prayer through the link below:

We do not presume
to come to this your table, merciful Lord,
trusting in our own righteousness,
but in your manifold and great mercies.
We are not worthy
so much as to gather up the crumbs under your table.
But you are the same Lord
whose nature is always to have mercy.
Grant us therefore, gracious Lord,
so to eat the flesh of your dear Son Jesus Christ
and to drink his blood,
and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us.
Amen

Link to the full Morning Office