Bread of Life

REFLECTION John 6:41-51

>From the beginning of time, people have dreamed of immortality. They

have dreamed about eternal life. And with each death of a loved one,

that dream became more and more of an obsession with people.

The 16th century explorer Ponce de Leon sailed to America in search for

the legendary fountain of youth.

Today, people still strive to be immortal. Just count the number of TV

ads offering products that will help make you stay young, feel and look

younger. People in positions of power will build monuments to

perpetrate at least the memory of their name.

We always hear people speak of "the untimely death of someone...."

People always look at death as "untimely," because they aspire to live

on and on.

When Jesus appeared in Palestine and began talking about eternal life,

people flocked to hear what he had to say. Jews were especially

interested in the after life. Since the time of Abraham and Moses, they

were in the dark about what happened to the dead.

They believed there was a "world of the dead," but they had no idea

what that world was like. And so any light Jesus could throw on the

mystery was welcome. And one of the most remarkable things Jesus said

about eternal life is what he says in today's Gospel. Listen to his

remarkable words: "I am the bread of life... that comes down from

heaven... If anyone eats this bread, he will live forever. The bread

that I will give is my flesh, which I give so that the world may live."

(John 6: 48-51)

Jesus reveals that life in this world isn't the end of things. There's

another life to come. And that life will never end. It is eternal life.

It is everlasting life

The Second Vatican Council in its document, "The Constitution on the

Sacred Liturgy," declares: "Christ is always present in the Church,

especially in the actions of the liturgy. He is present in the

Sacrifice of the Mass, in the person of the minister... and most of all

under the Eucharistic species."

The Council continues: "Christ is present in the sacrament by his

power, in such a way that when someone baptizes, Christ himself

baptizes."

Christ is "present in his word, for it is he himself who speaks when

the Holy Scriptures are read in the Church." Jesus is with his Word.

What he said more than 2,000 years ago to the people is what he said to

us a few minutes ago in today's Gospel. Jesus is with us in his

representative, the priest. Speaking to the representatives, Jesus

said, "Whoever listens to you listens to me." (Luke 10:16)

Finally, he is present when the Church prays and sings, for he himself

promised: "Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there in

their midst." (Matthew 18:20)

Of all the ways Jesus is present among us, his presence in the

Eucharist has always been special to us Catholics. Jesus is with us in

the Sacrament of Eternal Life. It was concerning this sacrament that he

says in today's Gospel, "I am the bread of life.... If anyone eats this

bread, he will live forever."

In the light of all this, is it any wonder that Jesus says to us: "How

blest you are to see the things you see! I tell you that many prophets

and kings wanted to see what you see, but they could not, and to hear

what you hear, but they did not." (Luke 10:23-24) All we can do in the

face of such a great mystery is pray:

"God our Father, you have given us so much. Forgive us if we ask for

one more thing. Give us the faith to recognize the Spirit of Your Son

in the hearts of our brothers and sisters. Give us the faith to

recognize the voice of your Son in the words we have just read and

heard explained to us. We make our prayer through Christ our Lord,

through whom, and in whom, we will one day live with You and the Holy

Spirit Forever and ever. Amen."