The Jews were arguing among themselves, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”
So Jesus replied, “Truly, I say to you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink
his blood, you have no life in you. The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives
eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.
My flesh is really food, and my blood is truly drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my
blood, live in me, and I in them. Just as the Father, who is life, sent me, and I have life
from the Father, so whoever eats me will have life from me. This is the bread from heaven;
not like that of your ancestors, who ate and later died. Those who eat this bread will live
forever.”
READ: When the Israelites were hungry in the desert, God fed them with manna,
heavenly bread. Paul reminds the Corinthians that, by sharing in the Eucharist,
they were joined to the Body and Blood of Christ. Jesus makes it clear that by
receiving his Body and Blood, we can live in him forever.
REFLECT: The Eucharist is the precious gift that Christ left his Church so that he
would remain present with us even after he ascended to his Father in heaven.
The Eucharist unites us to Christ in a special way. He comes to us to make us holy
and to strengthen us for our mission as disciples. The Eucharist unites us to our
brothers and sisters as well. United in the communion of the Eucharist, we support
each other in our growth in holiness. The Eucharist commits us to the poor and
vulnerable, helping us to see them as people to love, not problems to solve. The
Eucharist is food for our journey to heaven.
PRAY: Lord Jesus, may I receive your Body and Blood in faith so I may grow in
holiness.
ACT: Spend some time before the Eucharist, praying for the needs of the world.