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A Reflection on John 6:41-71

“It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’” (v 45)

The people are murmuring. Like “seed sown on rocky ground,” they have heard the word of God with joy, but upon encountering a difficult teaching from Jesus, they begin to question, doubt, and fall away (Mt 13:20-21). They’ve asked again for a sign like manna in the desert, and Jesus answers with a promise of the bread of eternal life. Yet rather than letting the words burn in their hearts (Lk 24:32), they ask, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” (v 52). They are too attached to their worldly understanding (the limitations of the flesh Jesus speaks of) to understand that these words come from no ordinary man, but from him who has seen the Father..

Let us hear these words, not with stony hearts, but with hearts of flesh burning within us: “Truly, truly, I say to you,” Jesus implores. Do you hear the yearning in His voice? This is a truth He desperately desires for you to hear: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you” (v 53). He came so that we might have life, and have it abundantly (Jn 10:10). And this is how we are to have it: to eat his flesh and drink his blood. Seven times, Jesus emphasizes those words. Seven times, he implores us to partake. This is the heart of the Father, this is the heart of the Son: for us to receive His flesh and blood so that we might abide in Him and have eternal life.

And the people will not accept it. They leave. Jesus watches them go, does nothing to stop them. This teaching is critical to His mission. He has come to bring the bread of Life to save us all who are in the desert of spiritual death, and He will not compromise. He turns to the twelve, turns to me, and asks, “Will you also go away?” Can I answer as Peter did?

My Jesus, give me a heart burning with desire for the bread of Life, your body and blood in the Eucharist. I will not reject the gift of living bread, because I believe as Peter did. I make his words my prayer: “Lord, to whom shall I go? You have the words of eternal life; and I have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

Scripture quotations are from The Catholic Edition of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright ©1965, 1966 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.  Used by permission.  All rights reserved worldwide.