Jn 6:52-59
52The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us [his] flesh to eat?” 53Jesus
said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of
the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. 54Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. 55For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. 57Just
as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so
also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. 58This
is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate
and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” 59These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
Reflection:
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood.
The Jews think of literally eating the flesh of the Son of Man and
drinking his blood. For them this is a form of cannibalism. Besides,
they are prohibited from drinking blood (cf Gn 9:4). Thus, they cannot
understand and accept what Jesus is telling them.
Jesus here is pointing to the mystery
of the Eucharist. His life will be a sacrificial offering on the altar
of the cross. We who partake in the communion of his body and blood are
closely united with him. We receive his redemption and forgiveness of
our sins, the fullness of life and his promise of eternal life.
At the Eucharist, God gives us Jesus as
food for eternal life. Jesus is the bread of life. His flesh is true
food, and his blood is true drink. Unlike the Israelites who ate manna
and died, we who feed on Jesus will live forever.
“You are what you eat.”
Does your frequent Communion make you think like Jesus, speak like Jesus, and act like Jesus?
Does your frequent Communion make you think like Jesus, speak like Jesus, and act like Jesus?
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