Scripture readings for this reflection can be found at https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/042326.cfm
In our gospel for today we continue with the Bread of Life discourse. Throughout John chapter 6 Jesus is teaching about how we will be fed on His Body and Blood in the Eucharist. The Lord goes on and teaches that unless we eat of his body and drink of his blood we will have no life in us. Jesus tells us in today’s reading, “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.”
Many of those listening to Jesus had a problem understanding and accepting this teaching, thinking he was talking about cannibalism. We know that Jesus is able to give us His Body and Blood at every Mass. It’s not symbolic, but truly His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.
Let us be truly grateful for this wonderful gift of the Lord each time we attend Mass.
Beautiful and true. Thank you for the opportunity to be part of it. Sandy Yankow
ReplyDelete🙏✝️
From Arlene B. Muller
ReplyDeleteYES, the Eucharist is both a great gift & a great mystery that we cannot fully understand. The Eucharist is Our LORD'S Real Presence: Body, Blood, Soul & Divinity--not merely a symbol. At the same time this is not cannibalism. How this is & how this can be, I don't understand. But I know & believe that at Mass when I receive what appears to be bread, usually in the shape of a round Host, & when I drink what appears to be wine in all appearances, this is JESUS. Since the age of 7 when I made my First Holy Communion on what was the happiest day of my life at the time almost every week Our LORD has come into my soul.
The Bread of Life is also described as "The Real Presence" by Priests and Bishops. Although it is a mystery how this can be possible, and our human minds struggle to understand that it is not cannibalism, our human minds are limited in our ability to comprehend mysteries and miracles that can never be proven. This is why our Faith is so important. As Jesus said to Thomas: blessed are those who have not seen and who believe. Each time I receive Holy Communion, it is a unique experience. Sometimes I feel at peace, sometimes I cry, sometimes I talk to Jesus for a long time, other times I offer the Communion for other people who are suffering or the souls of family members who have died. As Catholics, we are truly blessed to have the opportunity to receive Jesus into our hearts and souls.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing, Arlene. The gift of the Eucharist is such a blessing in our lives. It is good to be reminded so that we never take for granted this gift of Jesus’ Body and Blood.
ReplyDeleteThe following is from Connie Watz
ReplyDeleteIt is important to emphasize this truth to the people . It is estimated between 1/3 and possibly even 2/3 of Catholics do not believe in the Real Presence.
Part of the misunderstanding comes from where in the Liturgy of the Eucharist it is said, "... this is a memorial" and "Do this in memory of Me".
It is more than a memory.
The first formalized Eucharistic liturgy was in Greek. The Greek word is "anamnesis", which means "making present and active" past events in a liturgical context, more than just a memory.
I think the understanding got lost in the translation.
So, it would be important that priests and deacons explain the "meaning of the word" for people to understand this is "Christ made present" in the Mass.
Another thought...
"The marriage feast of the Lamb has begun... and His Bride is prepared to welcome Him."
-- we do this each time we receive Holy Communion, we consummate the marriage. Jesus is the Bridgroom, the Church is His bride. In the new covenant, the new temple is the people - we are church.
Each time we receive Holy Communion, we are receiving Jedus into our bodies - consummation the marriage between God and humankind.
The thought is absolutely awesome. No other "god" has a relationship with the people like our God, the one-true God.