Word to the Wise
Thursday, April 23, 2015 - 3rd Week of Easter - Thurs
[Acts 8:26-40 and John 6:44-51]"Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. 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." [John]
Today's passage from the "bread of life discourse" marks a pivotal moment in the discourse. It begins with those important words: "Amen, amen, I say to you...." and seems to repeat what was said earlier about Moses and the manna. But then there is a shift with an "I AM" saying: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven...and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." Here Jesus offers more than the intangible act of faith in himself. He offers his very self - his flesh! As we will see in tomorrow's gospel, this changes the discussion considerably.
If there is anything unique about Catholic faith, it is our belief that Jesus Christ gave us his body and blood for food as a way of being always with us Through the action of the Holy Spirit working through the priest and assembly, bread and wine become the person of Jesus Christ. We call this the "eucharist," a word which means thanksgiving! The Gospel of John does not mention this act at the last supper scene, but rather speaks of Jesus washing the feet of the disciples (which is an integral part of receiving him). Instead, John places this earlier and in a different context, most likely because it was a very difficult issue as we will see. What is really important in all of this is the question we can ask ourselves when we get up to "go to communion:" "What am I doing?" AMEN
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