For the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.
John 6:56
Imagine if you had been part of the crowd listening to Jesus when he tells them that they are to eat his flesh and drink his blood if they are to have eternal life! Would you have been tempted to join with those disciples who said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” (v. 60).
The early Christians knew that it was difficult—as difficult as accepting that their Savior had been crucified. Yet, the Apostles and their disciples were adamant that, as St. Paul writes, in the cup and the bread, we participate in the Body and Blood of Christ. (See 1 Corinthians 10:16).
As in every generation, some Catholics today may struggle with the Church’s teaching on the Real Presence. Yet, since 1264, the Church has celebrated the feast of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ as a reminder of this truth.
For 2,000 years, we turn to Jesus and say with St. Peter, “You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).
Lord, thank you for the great gift of the holy Eucharist.
This is a guest post from Greg Erlandson, a regular contributor to Living Faith. Learn more about him at LivingFaith.com. It is also an excerpt from our special edition title, Living Bread, described below.
