REFLECTIONS TODAY
“Eating flesh” and “drinking blood” have to be taken figuratively; otherwise, one could be charged of cannibalism. The term “flesh and blood” is a biblical figure of speech for human beings or human life. When Simon Peter confesses Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of the living God, Jesus calls him blessed, “for flesh and blood” has not revealed this to him but the heavenly Father (Mt 16:17). “Flesh” has to do with the incarnate life of Jesus; he is the Word of God who became flesh (Jn 1:14). “Blood” has to do with his very real death. To be eaten and to be drunk means that the flesh is to be broken and the blood is to be spilled. Jesus’ discourse on the Bread of Life gives the context on how Jesus’ flesh and blood are to be shared—in the Eucharistic celebration which is the memorial of his death on Calvary that enables believers to attain to eternal life.
GOSPEL • JOHN 6:52-59
The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?” Jesus 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. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my Flesh is true food, and my Blood is true drink. Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in him. Just 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. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
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