I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this
bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my Flesh
for the life of the world.” John 6:51
Jesus was starting to stir up the emotions of some within the
crowd. They began to ridicule Him because He had said that He was
the “bread that had come down from heaven.” Thus, many of those who
had sought Jesus out in hopes of another miraculous free meal began
to murmur among themselves and ridicule Him. As a result, Jesus
began to speak even more clearly and shockingly. He then went even
further and said that He is not only the “living bread that came
down from heaven” but that those who want to “live forever” must
also eat His “Flesh.”
How would you have reacted to such a statement if you were among
those within the crowd? Consider the fact that you would have
recently seen, with your own eyes, the miracle of the
multiplication of the loaves and fishes. Therefore, you would have
realized that Jesus was someone special, to say the least. But how
would you have reacted to this statement of Jesus, “and the bread
that I will give is my Flesh for the life of the world,” if you had
heard it spoken at that time? Most likely, your reaction would have
been the same reaction that you have right now to the teaching of
the Most Holy Eucharist.
Many who heard Jesus speak this way may have thought it was a bit
of an unusual thing to say. Some would have reacted strongly, while
others would have reacted with indifference. But some would have
had an entirely different reaction. Some would have heard Jesus
speak these new and shocking words, would have realized that they
did not fully understand what He meant, but would have believed
deeply on account of the gift of faith. Somehow they would have
known, in the depths of their consciences, that they did indeed
need to eat the Flesh of Him Who came down from Heaven since He was
indeed the Bread of Life.
Believing in the Eucharist, in the fact that these tangible and
visible gifts of the Sacred Host and the Precious Blood are, in
fact, the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of the Eternal Son of
God, can only happen through the interior and transforming gift of
faith. How else can you believe such a teaching? How else could you
believe that these words in today’s Gospel have come true? And that
the reception of the Most Holy Eucharist is the pathway to eternal
life? The gift of faith in the Most Holy Eucharist is the one and
only way to understand, accept and deeply believe what our Lord has
spoken in this Holy Gospel.
Reflect, today, upon Jesus speaking these most holy words for the
first time: “...the bread that I will give is my Flesh for the life
of the world.” As you prayerfully reflect upon these words, ponder
how deeply you believe them. How deep is your faith in the Most
Holy Eucharist? The Eucharist is the fulfillment of this passage,
and our divine Lord invites you to not only believe in His holy
words but to allow this truth to transform you in ways beyond what
you could ever imagine.
My Eucharistic Lord, You are truly the Bread of Life, and all
those who eat Your Flesh and drink Your Blood will inherit eternal
life. I do believe this, dear Lord. I believe that the Most Holy
Eucharist is You, Your Soul and Divinity, given to me so that I can
share in Your holy life. Give me the grace I need to deepen my
faith in the Most Holy Eucharist so that I will be drawn more fully
into the joys of Your Eternal Kingdom. Jesus, I trust in
You.
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Featured images above: Christ Preaching (La Petite Tombe) By
Rembrandt, via Wikimedia Commons
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