By Lynda MacFarland

“For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” ~ John 6:33

In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells the crowds who relentlessly follow Him that they are only there because of the “loaves” He provided them to alleviate their hunger. He asserts they should work “for the food that endures for eternal life.”

Of course, they want to know what they can do to “accomplish the works of God.” Jesus’ answer is simple but essential for everyone, then and through the ages: “believe in the one he sent.”

The Gospel passage ends with the amazing words from Jesus, The Word, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger and who ever believes in me will never thirst.”  The power of the Eucharist sustains and vivifies a faithful Catholic in this world and in preparation for the world to come!

But though our Gospel excerpt for Sunday ends here, John 6 is all about the living bread that is Jesus. We read further in this chapter that Jesus’ teaching becomes too hard to accept for many of those following Him. Jesus progresses from “coming” to Him and “believing” in Him to eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Jesus!

So many people in our present-day still find Jesus’ words too challenging to accept. Of course, it’s about spirit and life, Jesus explains. Yes, the bread and wine still appear as those material substances, but through the Holy Spirit’s power, transubstantiation has occurred. So, when Jesus says, “This is my Body, This is my Blood” it becomes those Precious elements for us to eat and drink as Jesus told us we must.

 The last two verses of St. Thomas Aquinas’ hymn, Pange Lingua, composed for the Feast of Corpus Christi, are still sung during the exposition and benediction of the Eucharist, the bread of life. Eight centuries after it was first employed, it is still being sung and for the same reasons. And, of course, going back to Jesus and the apostles at the Last Supper, the presider of the Mass still offers the Body and Blood of Jesus to those gathered, and we celebrate both a memorial, a present action, and a future glory. Jesus says coming to Him and believing in Him means we will never hunger and never thirst. And we find this to be true over 2.000 years later. Our Triune God still provides.

When the celebrant elevates the Eucharist and utters the words of John the Baptist, “Behold, the Lamb of God,” we are remembering events from millennia ago and they are as present now as they were all those centuries ago. And they echo in eternity. If Catholics everywhere can share the reasons for the things they do at Mass and the things they do outside of Mass, like adoration, but also every corporal and spiritual work of mercy they engage in because of the Lamb of God and His Real Presence in the Eucharist, we can bring many people to Christ.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, we have come to believe that You are the Christ. We praise and thank You for the gift of Yourself, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Amen.

Call to Action

Spend some time in Adoration this week and whenever you can! Jesus is waiting to spend that special time with you. Adore, praise, thank, and just gaze at Him as you contemplate His constant, loving gaze upon you.

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