Today’s Gospel is the last in a series of readings from John, Chapter 6—from what is called the Bread of Life discourse. This week, we’ve heard Jesus has talk about how the food he gives does not perish, how it is the bread of life, and that those who eat this bread will be raised on the last day.
Today Jesus perhaps gives the hardest part of the teaching on the Eucharist, this bread of life is his flesh and his blood, and unless we eat of it, we will not have eternal life with Him.
This shocking statement started a quarrel amongst the disciples; and as a result of their inability to accept this teaching, some of those who had begun to follow Jesus, turned away from him and went back to their former way of life. Nevertheless, Jesus did not recant or even modify His terminology. He was willing to lose even the twelve apostles rather than change or water down his teaching here.
Even to that first generation of Christians, who were already gathering for the celebration of Mass, the constantly litany throughout John chapter 6—“eat”, “drink”, “flesh”, “blood”—would have resonated with the same sacramental overtones that they hold for us, turning their thoughts toward the Eucharist.
St. Thomas Aquinas maintained that believing in the Eucharist is the most challenging act of faith. “The presence of Christ’s true flesh and blood in this sacrament cannot be detected by sense, nor understanding, but by faith alone which rests upon Divine authority”. The Eucharist does not look like Christ; thus it tests not our sight, but our faith.
In a short poem, called the Adoro te Devote, St. Thomas wrote: “Sight, taste, and touch in Thee are deceived; the ear alone most safely is believed: I believe all the Son of God has spoken: Than Truth’s own word there is no truer token.” We can trust that the Eucharist is Jesus’ true flesh and blood, because He Himself has told us so, and there is no truer Word than His.
Listen also to the words of the beautiful hymn, O Sacrum Convivium, also composed by St. Thomas: "O sacred banquet (O Sacrum Convivium) in which Christ is received as food, the memory of his Passion is renewed, the soul is filled with grace and a pledge of the life to come is given to us."
The Adoro Te Devote, is often recited while kneeling in front of the Eucharist in Adoration; listen to how St. Thomas concludes the poem: “Jesus, whom now I see hidden, I ask you to fulfill what I so desire: That the sight of your face being unveiled, I may have the happiness of seeing your glory.”
Let us rejoice that Jesus has given this gift to all generations until he returns in glory; for the glory of God and salvation of souls.
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