The Gospel for this Sunday is Jn 6:41-51
1. Life guarantee
Within each of us there is a desire for life. We want it to be good and beautiful, and never-ending. There is something that gives us assurance for such a life. It is the physical presence of the body of Jesus in our bodies, the Eucharist.
2. Keywords
The bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.
In this Gospel passage, the original Greek word used for "body" is sarks (σάρξ), which means literally “flesh.” This word is used to deliberately emphasize the reality of the physical body of Christ. So, when we approach Holy Communion and we listen to the words, “The Body of Christ,” let us recall: “The Flesh of Christ.”
Yes, I know this teaching is not easy. But these are Christ’s words. He wants us to believe that the Eucharist is not just a symbol, but truly his body-flesh. His presence among us is real, physical.
I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever.
The Eucharist is such a great gift that we want others to be given it, too. So, let us invite others to Mass so that they can encounter Jesus, especially at this time when Holy Communion could not be received because of the pandemic. Jesus is waiting for us, and for our relatives and friends. He wants to give us life that starts now and never ends.
3. Now
In your daily life, do you thank Jesus that in the Eucharist he gives you a taste of the fullness of life that never ends? Do your wife, your husband, your children or your friends notice that you have received the Body of Christ? That the Body of Christ has become your body?
