The Gospel of John 6:51-58
Jesus said, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” So, Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.”
Let us Pray: Heavenly Father, Thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, the living bread that came down from heaven. We are grateful for His sacrifice, which grants us eternal life. Help us to always remember the depth of Your love and to live in a way that honors this incredible gift. Amen.
We continue with John’s Bread of Life discourse. The lectionary begins by picking up verse 51 from last Sunday’s text, because Jesus’ statement there about his flesh causes arguments to break out within the crowd and provides the opportunity for Jesus to move this conversation to the next level. Jesus didn’t launch these rhetorical bombshells so that they’d fizzle with time. No, I think it’s clear that Jesus was stirring the pot on purpose. He wanted to say things that challenged people, even to the point of having to decide that they’d have to leave. One thing is clear is that Jesus wasn’t about people-pleasing. He wasn’t about making everyone able to go away happy and come again happy. He wasn’t about just saying and doing just about anything to attract attention.
This gospel reflects the big love of God for His people that even with all the sins we have, still He gave us His son. Jesus tells us of the divine banquet. When we receive the Holy Eucharist through the Holy Communion, we are the chosen. The Eucharist symbolizes the bread and wine offered by Jesus so that we are always reminded of Him, where believers partake in the body and blood of Christ. The act of eating His flesh and drinking His blood symbolizes a deep, intimate union with Jesus, reminding us of His sacrifice and our continual need for His grace. Jesus speaks about being the “living bread” that came down from heaven, emphasizing the importance of partaking in His flesh and blood to attain eternal life. Jesus’ words highlight the necessity of faith in Him for eternal life. By believing in Him and participating in the Eucharist, believers are promised resurrection and eternal life. What we receive in the small piece of bread or the sip of wine at the Eucharist is the gift of life from Jesus. This is a sharing in the life of God; in the fragility of the bread and wine is strong food, and joyful drink, fruit of God’s creation and work of human hands. It is the gift of God who has become one of us. It is the gift of love with sacrifice. Remember the invitation to partake in the living bread is extended to all, reflecting Jesus’ inclusive nature. Jesus offer of eternal life is not limited by ethnicity, social status, or past sins, but is available to anyone who believes and accepts Him. Consider how this passage speaks to your own faith journey. How do you experience Jesus as the living bread in your daily life? Reflect on the ways you can deepen your relationship with Him and embody His compassion and inclusivity in your interactions with others.
Let us Pray: Eternal Father, We thank You for the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ. Help us to live with this hope in our hearts, knowing that our true home is with You. Guide us on our journey and keep us steadfast in our faith until we are united with You forever. Amen.
Reflections by Bob 