Every Sunday, Bishop Edward Malesic writes a Scripture reflection for the faithful. Follow the bishop on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
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Again, as we read through the Gospel of John, chapter six, Jesus is drawing us to the conclusion that the bread that he will give is himself for the life of the world — He is pointing us to the Eucharist, the Bread of Life.
He says today, “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.”
Then we read, “The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’”
This is a question that is often posed to us: “How can you believe that the bread on the altar is really Jesus come to us in the flesh?”
Yet the same people who question us about our belief in the Eucharist have no problem professing that God’s only Son came to us from Heaven and took on human flesh, being born of a woman, Mary. Hard to believe? Yes. True? Also, yes. Those who question the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist have no difficulty professing that Jesus said to the storm raging on the Sea of Galilee, “Quiet.” And it was. Hard to believe? Yes. True. Also yes.” The same persons who doubt the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist will believe the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, that he walked on water, that he changed water into wine at Cana, that he himself rose from the grave and lives forever. All of these are difficult to believe. All of them are still true.
And when Jesus said over the bread at the Last Supper, “This is my body,” so it came to be. And when he said over the wine, “This is the cup of my blood,” it was. How? Because Jesus, our Lord and our God, said so. His words have power to change things — even bread and wine into his body and blood.
And when a priest speaks the words of consecration over bread and wine at Mass, the very words of Eucharistic institution, it is Christ’s words, spoken through that priest that has the power to change bread and wine into his body and blood. For a man, it is impossible; but with God, all things are possible.
Jesus said, “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.” Hard to believe? Perhaps. True? Absolutely.
Have a blessed week everyone.