Meditations on the Sunday Gospel for the Year of the Eucharist
Sunday May 29th, 2005
of the Lord
whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of
the world."
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. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is
true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as
the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on
me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your
ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever." - John 6:51-58
miracle of the multiplication of loaves. They are seeking Him in order to see his miracles
and be filled with earthly bread. Jesus now is revealing to them that they should not seek
earthly bread but the Heavenly Bread, Him. Jesus should be sought not for what He can
do, but for who He is, the Son of the Living God. He is revealing that He is giving the
greatest gift he can give, Himself.
Apostles and You
of today’s Gospel: “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.” At this point, you would have no
concept of the Eucharist, simply Jesus saying that He is the bread come down from
Heaven. Would you draw the line at this point? You have seen him work miracles and
heard his words of truth which rang in your heart, but can you continue to follow Him after
such a seemingly bizarre statement. Would you be counted among those many disciples
who drew back and no longer followed Him after this episode (John Ch.6 v.66)? or would
you like Peter in the face of such a mysterious call exclaim in exasperation, “Lord to whom
shall we go, you have the words of eternal life”(John Ch. 6 v. 68).
I gaze upon your Eucharistic Presence my senses tell me that I am seeing
bread. Yet, my Faith, the Church, your very Word tells me that I am seeing you,
the Living God. Many have left you over this Lord, but you did not stop them
then and will you not stop them now. Lord I thank you for such a wondrous gift.
I thank you that you so much want to be one with me, body and spirit, that you
have left behind this sacrament of your Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. I ask
pardon for those who could not see beyond the mystery and into the Love that
drove you to leave such a wonderful sacrament.
Lord, in giving me this gift of the Eucharist you have held back nothing, You have given yourself completely and
totally to me. Nothing remains to be given. Allow me to make a like return, a gift of myself. Reveal to me the blocks I
place to the total gift of myself [listen for ten minutes]
Jesus, receiving you in Holy Communion should be the most intimate moment of our relationship. Show me how I
can better prepare for that moment and follow it up afterward. You are the most important person in my life, help me to
center my life on the encounter I have with you at the Mass [ask and listen for ten minutes]
[Slowly read through these words from the Gospel, pausing to look up at the Living Bread as you do:] "I am the
living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my
flesh for the life of the world."
EUCHARIST
which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that
the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed
with the washing that is for the remission of sins, unto
regeneration, and who is so living as Christ enjoined. For not as
common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in
like manner as Jesus Christ our Saviour, having been made flesh
by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation,
so likewise we have been taught that the food which is blessed
by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by
transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus
who was made flesh. For the Apostles, in the memoirs composed
by them, which are called Gospels have delivered unto us which
was enjoined upon them.." (First Apology, Ch LXVI) - Saint
Justin Martyr 110-165 A.D.
Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from Christ's side, wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within Thy wounds hide me
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee
From the malicious enemy defend me
In the hour of my death call me
And bid me come unto Thee
That I may praise Thee with Thy saints
and with Thy angels
Forever and ever
Amen