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THE EUCHARIST (written by Willy Effinger) |
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“Amen, amen, I say to you, you seek Me not because you have seen signs, but because you have eaten of the loaves and have been filled.” (John 6:26)
Jesus spoke these words to His Disciples at large, as well as to all His followers, the onlookers and the miracle seekers. Just before this exhortation, they had asked Him: “Where did you come from?” Oh yes, they were familiar with the signs of Moses’ time – water coming from the rock and manna raining from Heaven. They knew how the chosen nation had been fed in the desert for forty years. Yes, they were also aware – and some might have even been partakers – of the feeding of the multitude at Bethsaida. Yet, there was still this deep question: “Where did you come from?” They were undoubtedly thinking things like: “Who sent you?” or “Who are you really?” They might have thought: “You fed us once or twice with bread and fish, but Moses fed his people for forty years. So, explain if there is more to you than meets the eye.”
Like us, His followers enjoyed the material benefits, rather than seeking the spiritual significance of the miracles Jesus performed. So, Jesus went on to say: “Do not labour for the food that perishes, but for that which endures unto life everlasting, which the Son of Man will give you. For upon Him the Father, God Himself, has set His seal.” Now, this started to “speak” to His followers, for where there is a seal, there is a King who provides it. Furthermore, they began to understand that perhaps it was God the Father who had given authority to Jesus. As eyes and ears were focused on Jesus, some courageously asked, “What are we to do in order that we may perform the works of God (i.e. to labour for the food that endures unto everlasting life)? Jesus replied: “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” Still, the people had a hard time to believe fully in Jesus and His works, to believe that the Heavenly King was behind all of this. Could they believe beyond a shadow of doubt? Could they believe in Him against all odds? It was particularly difficult when His actions or words disappointed them, perhaps dispelling all hope and shattering their dreams of an earthly kingdom with no sorrow or pains. To encourage them, Jesus showed them more signs and wonders, for He wanted them to persist in their search for the truth. They told Jesus that He needed to perform miracles greater than Moses for them to believe in Him completely. I believe that Jesus wanted them to make a choice between Moses and Himself, between the Old Covenant and the New, between the manna from Heaven that fed the empty stomachs of their forefathers and the Manna from Heaven that gives everlasting life, Jesus Christ Himself.
Jesus approached them again with these words: “Amen, Amen, I say to you. Moses did not give you the bread from Heaven, for the Bread of God is that which comes down from Heaven and gives life to the world.” Now, Jesus claims first place and Moses moves to second place. But if He is indeed the Bread of Life, how does one obtain it? They exclaim: “Lord, give us always this bread.” If you recall, earlier in Holy Scripture, Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well that He was the Living Water and she exclaimed: “Lord, give me always this living water.” In both instances, the material and tangible things were on their minds. So, Jesus clarified matters by saying: “I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to me shall not hunger. He who believes in Me shall not thirst.” I can imagine that His words spread like wild fire! It wasn’t long before He was asked to clarify His words in the synagogue. Jesus said: “ I am the Bread of Life. Your fathers ate the manna in the desert and have died. This is the Bread that comes down from Heaven, so that if anyone eat of it he will not die. I am the Living Bread that has come down from Heaven. If anyone eat of this Bread, he shall live forever; and the Bread that I will give is My flesh for the life of the world.” This really made the discussions heat up! How could this man give them His flesh to eat? Was this just a metaphor or was He stating a fact? Knowing the objections of His listeners, Jesus went on to say: “Amen, Amen, I say to you, unless you eat of the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you shall not have life in you. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has life everlasting and I will raise him up on the last day. For My flesh is food indeed and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me and I in him. As the living Father has sent Me, and as I live because of the Father, so He who eats Me, he also shall live because of Me.” No, it was not a metaphor – it was reality. His answer made it crystal clear – and many left Him! Even some of His closest followers walked away saying: “This is a hard saying. Who can listen to it?” That is, it was repugnant to think of eating flesh and drinking blood, sickening to the stomach and revolting to the mind.
“Does this scandalize you?” Jesus asked. Going on, He said: “It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” But this did not stop the dissention or the exodus of His people. When only twelve remained, He asked them: “Do you also wish to go way?” Simon Peter answered: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of everlasting life, and we have come to believe and to know that You are the Holy One of God.”
Months passed. How would they ever obtain this Bread of Life? How would they ever have this longed-for life within them? At the Paschal Banquet, when Jesus took the loaf of bread and broke it, He said: “Take and eat; this is My Body, which is being given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” A little later, He took the cup of wine mixed with water, gave thanks and passed it to His disciples saying: “Take this and drink; this is My Blood, the new covenant, which is being shed for many. Do this in remembrance of Me.”
The Eucharistic celebration had been born! The Church of Christ had its beginning and foundation. About twenty-five years later, St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, in Chapter 11, verses 23-29, about the real Eucharist and described it as a permanent rite for all the faithful communities derived directly from Jesus Christ, on that fateful night a quarter of a century earlier.
I urge you, my dear brothers and sisters, to know and to believe that the One you receive at Holy Communion is truly the Son of the Living God, the One who came down from Heaven so that YOU may have eternal life.
MAY YOU HAVE A BLESSED AND PEACE-FILLED EASTER SEASON!
THE LORD IS RISEN, ALLELUIA! HE IS RISEN INDEED, ALLELUIA!
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