Thoughts for the Day

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 for ever.’ He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

A whole book is not enough to look at this passage from John's Gospel, so I can only make a few comments. Jesus says "I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you." After His death and resurrection the new Church would be accused of cannibalism by their enemies. So let us remember that the word 'bread' is used as a metaphor - a word or phrase used to describe something by equating it to something else. (eg "Elvis was dynamite" wouldn't mean he was a stick of explosive material, rather his performances were exciting).

In chapter 6 of John's Gospel then, Jesus keeps referring to bread - we get "Bread of life"; "Bread from heaven"; "Living bread"; and "Bread of God". He uses this metaphor to describe spiritual food. When we eat in real life we take in all kinds of food into our body to give us strength and to keep us alive, and so it is with faith when we receive the bread and wine at the Eucharist (ie Holy Communion).

Keeping out mind on ordinary life, though, looking at food doesn't satisfy our hunger, nor does taking pictures of freshly cooked bread, nor telling others about who makes the best bread, or buying quantities of bread. Nothing will satisfy our hunger but actually eating the bread. The same goes of course for satisfying thirst, only drinking will do that! Jesus is teaching us a profound truth that eating and drinking the bread and wine at our worship nourishes our souls and our communion with one another, and strengthens our relationship to Jesus.

Lord Jesus Christ,
You taught Your disciples that You were the bread of life,
and that Your sacrifice would feed their souls.
May we never forget that what we receive
in our worship as bread and wine
nourishes our souls;
strengths our communion with one another;
and draws us closer to You.
Amen.