In the Gospel reading today, we finish up in John 6. 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. So what happened? “As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer walked with 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. 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.
Many today talk of leaving the Church, for various reasons. While these reasons may seem valid in a moment of emotion, leaving the Church cannot be justified. No one should EVER walk away from the Eucharist. If you've been struggling, I implore you to repeat the words of St. Peter from John 6. Without the Church, there is no Eucharist. Please don't let men keep you from Jesus' Body and Blood.
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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“Please don’t let men keep you from Jesus’ Body and Blood.” AMEN Gus – and thank you!
If I may, a short story about the power of the Eucharist that was shared with me this week.
Before Dan and his wife got married, she had been searching for a church and had tried many. She believed in God, but could not accept the Real Presence of the Eucharist. Try as me may, Dan could not explain it well enough to her – so he invited her to go to Confession, come to Mass with him, entrust her questions to Jesus, and receive.
They attended a Mass for a small group and the priest asked all to receive in the hand and wait; to take some time to talk with Jesus about anything that may have been troubling them, and then for all to consume together.
That was over 30 years ago – and it has never been the same since!