20th Sunday Ordinary Time – Year B
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Today, we gather to reflect on one of the most profound and mysterious teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ, as recorded in the Gospel of John.
Jesus declares, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."
This statement, and the ensuing dialogue with the Jews, reveals the depth of God's love and the mystery of the Eucharist.
The Jews quarreled among themselves, questioning, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
This question reflects a natural human reaction to a divine mystery.
Jesus' words were shocking and difficult to understand.
Yet, He did not back down or soften His message.
Instead, He emphasized it further:
"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."
In these words, Jesus is not speaking metaphorically. He is revealing a profound truth about the Eucharist, the sacrament of His Body and Blood. The Eucharist is not merely a symbol or a reminder of Jesus' sacrifice; it is the real presence of Christ. When we partake in the Eucharist, we are truly receiving Jesus Himself—His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity.
Jesus continues, "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." Here, Jesus promises eternal life to those who partake in the Eucharist. This promise is not just about life after death; it is about a life transformed by the presence of Christ within us. The Eucharist is the source and summit of our Christian life. It nourishes us, strengthens us, and unites us with Christ and with one another.
The Eucharist is also a profound expression of God's love for us. Jesus gave His life for the life of the world. In the Eucharist, He continues to give Himself to us, offering us His very flesh and blood. This self-giving love is at the heart of the Christian faith. It calls us to respond with love and gratitude, to live lives of self-giving and service to others.
Jesus says, "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him." The Eucharist is a means of intimate communion with Christ. When we receive the Eucharist, we are united with Jesus in a profound and mysterious way. This union transforms us, making us more like Christ. It empowers us to live out our faith in our daily lives, to love as Jesus loved, to serve as He served.
Jesus also draws a contrast between the manna that the Israelites ate in the desert and the bread of life that He offers. "This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever." The manna was a temporary provision, sustaining the Israelites physically for a time. The Eucharist, however, is a permanent provision, sustaining us spiritually for eternity. It is the true bread from heaven, the bread that gives eternal life.
As we reflect on this profound mystery, let us approach the Eucharist with reverence and awe. Let us recognize the incredible gift that Jesus offers us in the Eucharist. Let us receive Him with open hearts, allowing His presence to transform us and to fill us with His love.
In the Eucharist, we encounter the living Christ. We are nourished by His Body and Blood, and we are united with Him in a profound and intimate way. This encounter with Christ in the Eucharist is a foretaste of the eternal banquet that awaits us in heaven. It is a source of hope and strength for our journey of faith.
Let us also remember that the Eucharist calls us to be Eucharistic people. Just as Jesus gave Himself for the life of the world, we are called to give ourselves in love and service to others. The Eucharist empowers us to live out this call, to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world.
As we come forward to receive the Eucharist today, let us do so with hearts full of gratitude and love. Let us open ourselves to the transforming power of Christ's presence. And let us go forth from this place, nourished and strengthened by the Eucharist, to live lives of love and service, bearing witness to the presence of Christ in our world.
May the Eucharist be for us the source of eternal life, the bread that sustains us on our journey, and the sign of God's incredible love for us.
Amen.
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