Word to the Wise
Saturday, May 11, 2019 - 3rd Week of Easter - Sat
[Acts 9:31-42 and John 6:60-69]As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer walked with him. Jesus then said to the Twelve, "Do you also want to leave?" Simon Peter answered him, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God." [John]
The "line in the sand" has been drawn and the Twelve stay on Jesus' side of the line. That "line" is Jesus' teaching about giving his Flesh and Blood as real food for eternal life. The word "eucharist" would later on become the term we now use to describe both the transformed bread and wine and the liturgical celebration surrounding this transformation which we Catholics ordinarily call "the Mass." We also use the term "the Blessed Sacrament," to describe the "consecrated host" when it is exposed for adoration by the faithful. This continual physical presence of Jesus Christ in the midst of the Church is at the center of our faith. Jesus is also present in other ways: in the scriptures, in the gathered assembly, in the proclaimed word and in the other sacraments. But we give special significance to "the Eucharist."
Simon Peter states the situation very succinctly: "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." If Jesus is the one whom God has sent, then his words are eternal life and we are called to faith. If he says that he can give us his Flesh to eat and his Blood to drink in the form of bread and wine transformed by the Holy Spirit, then those words are to be believed. Why settle for less? AMEN