“Whoever Eats This Bread Will Live Forever.”

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

This Sunday, as the Church continues to move through the "Bread of Life Discourse" in the sixth chapter of John, Jesus pulls no punches. As he explains further that he is the bread of life, and that the bread he will give is his flesh, the people are confused, asking, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"

Instead of softening the blow, trying to explain symbolically what he means, Jesus leans in further. He states, "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you." He goes on to tell them that if you do eat his flesh and drink his blood, you will live forever, promising that if you eat it he will "raise you up on the last day." In this case, Jesus couldn't be any clearer: the Eucharist is the bread of life and is a vital part of the life of a Christian!

For its part, the Church has always known this to be true. From the beginning the celebration of the Eucharist, known as the "breaking of the bread" in the Acts of the Apostles, has been an essential part of the Church's worship. And, the reason the Church teaches that its members should attend Church every Sunday and should receive Communion at least once a year is because of this very chapter! Jesus himself says it: unless you participate in the Eucharist, you cannot be fully connected to the life of God.

So, as we go about our week and prepare to encounter God in the Eucharist, let us pray for those who, for various reasons, are no longer connected to the Church and the Eucharist. May we seek to know and understand the reasons (many of which are valid) that people depart from the Church; may we work to correct the wrongs that we can in order to open hearts to returning; but may we also remain faithful to the one who has given us his flesh and blood and to the Church he has given us to guide us along the way of everlasting life.

Want to read the readings for this Sunday? Click here to find them.