REFLECTIONS TODAY
Listening to Jesus, the Jews argue among themselves: How could he possibly give them his flesh to be eaten and his blood to drink? Who would even think of eating human flesh and drinking human blood? This is hard teaching for anyone who takes it literally.
John wrote these words when the faith of the early Christian communities already saw in the “flesh and blood” of Jesus—present in their celebration of the Breaking of the Bread (the Eucharist)— the sacrifice of Jesus’ own body (his flesh and blood) on the cross. This body, hanged on the tree, atoned for all humanity, thereby reconciling all with God again. Receiving Jesus in his body and blood is to be in communion with him and to avail of the new and restored life with God. For us Christians, it is in the Eucharist that we become one with Jesus who willingly gave himself up for our sake.
Gospel • 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.
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