Friday of the Third Week of Easter – John
6:52-59
Today’s Gospel is a continuation of yesterday’s Gospel. After listening to Jesus preach to the people,
the Jews began to argue among themselves. How could Jesus possibly give them his flesh
to eat? This was ridiculous, and was not
at all appealing. Who would even think
of eating human flesh?
Jesus then tells the people that they will not have life
within if they do not eat his flesh and drink his blood. However, if they choose to eat Jesus’ flesh
and blood, they will have eternal life and they also will be raised up on the
last day. Jesus then tells them that
they will have eternal life.
In this reading, the words “flesh and blood” are a Hebrew
idiom referring to the whole person. When
Jesus speaks of His “flesh and blood,” He is not speaking literally. Rather, He is speaking metaphorically. Jesus wants us to understand and believe that
when we receive the body and blood of Christ, we truly encounter Jesus in a
deeply personal way. When we receive the
body and blood of Christ, we truly are in communion with Jesus.
Do we believe and trust that when we eat and drink the body
and blood of Christ, we truly are receiving Jesus? Or do we simply eat the bread and drink the
wine but do not choose to encounter Jesus our Lord? Receiving the body and blood of Christ is not
a magical action. Every time we received
the body and blood of Christ, Jesus is there.
We need to be awake and aware whom we are receiving. If we are on automatic pilot when we receive
the body and blood of Christ, and are not awake and alert, we will miss being
in full communion with Jesus. What loss
that is for us!
Today and every day, may we be alert and awake to the many
ways that Jesus comes to us. He is with us every moment!
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