THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Saturday of the 3rd week of Easter, 2022

Acts 9:31-42

Ps 116

John 6:60-69

Will you also go away?

Dear friends in Christ, we often say, ‘truth is bitter,’ and it can get really bitter when it has to do with the matters of faith and religion. Those who were listening to Jesus had come from the background of the Jewish religion where blood is considered sacred and one would not even think of eating pork not to talk of human flesh. To get to the level of telling the people that they have to eat his body and drink his blood was really a bitter pill to swallow. Yet Jesus insisted on this as the truth. Over the years, we have come to realise that the Eucharist is truly our food of life.

Our Gospel today (John 6:60-69) brings the discourse on the bread of life to a close. We started reading this chapter of John with the story of the multiplication of loaves, in which Jesus using five loaves and two fish, fed a crowd of five thousand men. The people were so moved, that they wanted to take him by force and make him king. Jesus had to sneak out of their midst to the hills. The people came looking for him the following day and when they saw him on the other side, expressed their surprise, at how he got there since they didn't see him the previous day, with the disciples who were crossing in the boat. Jesus however opened the discourse on the Bread of life with them, by asking them to look for the bread which has come down from heaven and not just crumbs to fill their stomach. He declared to them, that he is that bread which has come down from heaven, and his flesh is food indeed and his blood is drink indeed. That upset so many and they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” Jesus was not willing to change the topic instead he asked them, “Do you take offense at this?… The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. But some of you do not believe.” Many of his disciples we were told drew back and no longer walked with him. Jesus also turned to those who were still standing— to the twelve apostles— and then asked them, “Will you also go away?” 

Jesus was not looking for human approval, he was not looking for a huge crowd of followers, he wanted each one to decide after careful consideration ther to follow him or not. Jesus is not willing to compromise on the truth of the Gospel and that is what the church must be seen doing. As Christians, we need to speak in unambiguous terms, of what we believe—take it or leave it. If Jesus had wanted the crowd to stay, he would have looked for a different way to explain it away. The Eucharist remains our bread of life. It is the greatest treasure anyone can possess in this world. Like Peter, we must affirm our faith in Jesus and in the Eucharist saying, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed and come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

Let us pray: Lord fills us with your Spirit to truly understand what wonders you work for us in the sacrament of your body and blood. Amen

+Remain blessed