Twentieth Sunday
Jesus has two natures, one human, and the other divine. These two natures while distinctly different cannot be separated. Because Jesus possesses fully the nature of God and the nature of man we can describe Him as true God and true man. This teaching, to our human minds, borders on the impossible. Logically, every created thing has one nature, a tree has the nature of a tree, a human has its particular nature. No created thing has two natures, or it would be two things at one time, which we cannot fully understand. Therefore, the two natures of Jesus is a mystery of our faith. Through His Church, Jesus has taught us about this profound mystery and in faith we believe this true.
Jesus’ discourse on the bread of life in the Gospel of John presents us with another mystery. Jesus tells us “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I in him.” (John 6:56) While we may be able to accept this statement from a spiritual standpoint, Jesus emphasizes that we cannot view these words as only symbolic. Jesus explicitly tells that we are to consume His Body and Blood if we desire eternal life. If we did not have faith in Jesus, the thought of eating His Body and Blood would be a repulsive act.
Indeed, these words cause many Jews, that had listened to Jesus’ words about the Kingdom saw Him cure the sick, and feed 5000 people, to reject the teachings of Jesus. One can imagine the Jews thinking that He was planning to carve off pieces of His flesh and catch His blood for them to consume. Such a meal would be abhorrent not only aspect of cannibalism but also because of the severe religious dietary restrictions that Jewish faith had about blood.
However, Jesus, through these words, tests their faith. It was easy for the Jews to watch His miracles and hear His words, but there were was no commitment to Jesus. Jesus’ words “I am the living bread that came down from heaven, whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread I will give is my flesh for the life of the world” (John 6:51) forces the Jews to choose whether follow Jesus or return to their daily lives. When he saw the number of people leaving Jesus did not change His words and say, “Wait, what I really meant was that my body and blood would just be symbolized by the bread and wine. Of course, I didn’t mean that bread and wine would really become my body and blood.” Instead, He expected those who will follow him in faith to accept this most challenging meal. Jesus meant the words by eating His flesh and drink His blood we will receive eternal life.
The Eucharist is a core element of the Catholic faith. While we may see and taste the bread and wine, we believe that we are feasting the body of Jesus and drinking His blood. In the Mass, we open ourselves to Jesus that he may enter us, body and soul, to strengthen us for the battle against evil and fortify us in making faith-filled choices. Unless one genuinely believes the Eucharist is Jesus, he or she is no different from the Jews who turned away from Jesus. If we desire eternal life, then we must allow Jesus to become part of us in the reception of the Holy Eucharist. As we accept Jesus in the Eucharist, we become one with Jesus.
I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. (John 11:25-26)
Deacon Dan Gilbert