Word to the Wise
Saturday, May 6, 2017 -
[Acts 9:1-20 and John 6:52-59]FRIDAY, MAY 5, 2017. FRIDAY IN THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTER [Acts 9:1-20 and 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." [John] One can hardly blame Jesus' audience in Capernaum. His statements about eating his flesh and drinking his blood would sound like cannibalism! By the time the Gospel According to John was composed in writing, the meaning of the Eucharist was clear as a matter of faith to the Christian community. But the teaching was just as controversial later as it was when it was first mentioned. John does not set this teaching in the context of the Last Supper but rather places it in the context of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. The point is not to focus on the material but on the person. We Catholics know that the consecrated host does not have much taste and most parishes do not buy the best kind of wine. But there can be no doubt what these items become when offered at Mass through the ministry of the priest. Jesus continues to feed us, and in today's gospel passage tells us that in receiving him we receive eternal life. When we "go to communion" we unite ourselves with the Lord. This is not something we should do too casually. Tomorrow (May 6) I will give First Communion to a little girl I baptized eight years ago. I pray this time and all times will be a holy occasion for her, and I pray the same for all of us. AMEN
Comment on Reflection
<< Previous Date [Back to List] Next Date >>
config
view
logs
3840.0 KB
102 ms
4
