Reflection
In our Gospel today, Jesus continues the Bread of Life discourse, which we know caused some of his followers to leave Him. The same is true today, where people abandon the Church’s teaching on the real Presence of Jesus his transubstantiated Body and Blood at the Eucharist. Some go as far to leave the Catholic Church, settling for a Christian service that offers preaching and symbolism rather than what Jesus desires to give us as stated in today’s Gospel. Others will remain Catholic “in name only” but choose not to believe in this fundamental teaching of our faith.
It is understandable that many of the Judeans who heard Jesus preach about the need to eat his flesh and drink his blood in the synagogue at Capernaum did not fully understand what Jesus was saying. Naturally, they quarreled and fought with one another about the meaning of Jesus’ words. But Jesus doesn’t soften the message. Rather, he gives a three-fold response.
Jesus repeats three times that they need to eat his flesh and drink his blood. The first time, he says that those who do not do this will not have life. He’s making it clear that this is the only path to life in the Kingdom of God. The second time, he promises the gift of eternal life and resurrection to those who eat his flesh and drink his blood. He is promising His ultimate victory over death, and our ultimate resurrection from the dead. The third time, he says that this will cause a mutual indwelling: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood, remains in me and I in him” (John 6:56). This is the promise of our “communion” with the Holy Trinity, our ongoing process of divinization that leads to the eternal joy of heaven.
In the Old Covenant bread and wine were offered in a thanksgiving sacrifice as a sign of grateful acknowledgment to the Creator as the giver and sustainer of life. Melchizedek, who was both a priest and king offered a sacrifice of bread and wine. His offering prefigured the offering made by Jesus, our high priest and king, both at the Last Supper and in His sacrifice on the Cross.
Let us embrace the teaching Jesus gives us in today’s Gospel and regularly take part in the Eucharist, which Jesus offers us as nourishment for our souls and communion with the Holy Trinity.
Today’s Questions for Prayer and Reflection
Do you hunger for the “bread of life?”