If there is one chapter in all of Scripture that Catholics should be intimately familiar with, it is John 6. Over the course of the last three weeks at Sunday Mass, we have been hearing from John 6. Today we get the culmination of the Bread of Life discourse.
After Jesus talked about eating His Flesh and drinking His Blood, many of the people were upset. They figured he was some nut job talking about cannibalism. This was a difficult teaching; disturbing, no doubt. So what happened? “As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.” Did Jesus call them back? Did He try to clear up some terrible misunderstanding? Nope. He turned to the Twelve and asked them, “Do you also want to leave?” And Peter answers, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
This notion of eating Jesus’ Flesh and drinking His Blood was repulsive to many. The disciples could not possibly known how this teaching would play out. But the Twelve figured that Jesus must have a plan, a purpose, a way to fulfill his teaching. And, of course, He did. Still does. It is the Eucharist. The Bread of Life. His Body and Blood. So that all who eat and drink, for all time, might have eternal life. That includes you and me. Thanks be to God!
Father, thank you for the gift of the Eucharist. Deepen our faith and understanding, that we may share this greatest gift of all with others. Amen.
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