Jesus gives us his flesh to eat and his blood to drink.  To sit down at his table means to be one with him and with others.

Jesus tells the Jews, that is to say, the Jewish religious authorities, that the bread he will give is his flesh.  This gives rise to a quarrel among them.  And they end up saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”  Maybe they cannot but imagine a disgusting table, sickening.

What they say brings to mind Nicodemus’ “How can one who is old be born again?”  “How can …?”  Thus do the guardians and defenders of the law react; they cannot break out of the mold.

They believe that God has made himself known once and for all in the law.  Hence, he speaks to humans just through the law; it has the words of life.  The words that come out of God’s mouth and by which humans live.  That is to say, the law is the food from heaven.  It is the food the Israelites share at the table their Shepherd sets for them right before their foes.

And Jesus agrees that one does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from God’s mouth.  But he questions the claim that the law is God’s final and definitive word.  For he, Jesus, proclaims that he is such word.

Yet the Word became flesh.  It stands to reason, then, that Jesus teaches that the bread that he will give is his flesh.  And so, to follow him means to find reason in what sickens those who cherish the law absolutely.  To be his disciples also means to eat truly his flesh and to drink truly his blood.  And we do so as we share the bread and wine of the Eucharist.  So that we can be one Body, Spirit and Life with Christ who is one with the Father.

Lord Jesus Christ, make us, as we sit down at your table, watch carefully what you set before us (Office of Readings).  For we, too, are to prepare the same kind of meal.  That is to say, as you give us your flesh to eat and your blood to drink, so we ought to do the same for the sake of our brothers and sisters.  And grant, besides, that as you carried out the Father’s work, so may we also trust Providence and carry out the things God shows us that he wants us to do (SV.EN XII:82).

11 June 2023
Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (A)
Dt 8, 2-3. 14b-16a; 1 Cor 10, 16-17; Jn 6, 51-58