A Jesuit Catholic University
in Omaha, Nebraska, since 1878

[271] Acts 5:34-42 Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14 John 6:1-15

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer The Daily Reflections

“Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.”

The end of today’s Gospel is quite an irony compared to what happens to Jesus a short time later in his life, what we recently remembered in the Church calendar two weeks ago on Good Friday.  In this gospel, the people want to carry him off to make him a king.  But instead of making him a king, they crucify him in the end, with the charge against him reading “King of the Jews.”  How could there be such a change of heart, especially with a man who just fed them until they could not eat anymore?  I am a man who does a fair amount of thinking through his stomach, so anybody who feeds me is OK in my book.  But realistically, what did he do or say that would cause those who were once his followers to kill him?

I believe John 6:60-66 clues us in to how Jesus’ followers would later turn against him. This passage, which we will hear as the readings next Saturday, presents the only time in all of the Gospels that Jesus’ disciples leave him over one of his teachings.  That teaching, the Bread of Life Discourse, happens to be in the daily gospel readings for the next week.  In John 6:60-66, Jesus’ teaching on the nature of the Eucharist proves so radical that even to those who had left their lives and possessions to follow Jesus deserted him.  They “returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him” because they could not accept the teaching that we are supposed to consume Christ’s body and blood.  As Christians, this should cause us to ask ourselves: If Jesus was simply using symbols or parables to describe this Bread of Life, would his devoted followers have left him and, in the end, crucified him?

The answer in all of our heads should be a resounding “no”.  Nobody left Jesus when he spoke of the Prodigal Son, the Good Samaritan, or the Sower of the Seeds.  The Bread of Life Discourse is not another parable. 

This is what makes the Catholic faith truly unique.  We hold this teaching on the Bread of Life to be one of Jesus’s most important teachings, and we celebrate it at every single Mass.  Just as Jesus takes the loaves, gives thanks, and distributes them to the crowd in the Gospel today, so also does the priest at mass, except in neither case do they continue to be just loaves.  They become transubstantiated into the living presence of Jesus Christ under the forms of bread and wine!

At every single mass we witness a miracle happening right before our very eyes; a miracle we are called to partake in.  We have the opportunity to receive the presence of the King of the Universe physically inside of us, infused in our bodies!   How can we as Catholics ever respond to such an incredible phenomenon?

This gospel should cause us to ask ourselves: Do we truly believe in Christ’s presence in the Eucharist? If so, how are we behaving when we are around him? Do we remember to genuflect and show the utmost respect every time we walk in?  Is Jesus the first person we greet when we get settled or do we chit chat with those around us before addressing Jesus?  Do we prepare ourselves to receive Christ ahead of time through prayer and confession?  Imagine going to see Jesus like going to see a really important person; take for example, the pope (except even more important).  We wouldn’t ignore the pope and talk to others around us before addressing him.  Why do we do that with Jesus?  Finally, after we receive him, do our lives reflect his presence inside of us outside of mass?  Do we go reflecting not only the fact that we are made in the image and likeness of God but that we also have God within us?

For those of you who read this, I realize I am probably preaching to the choir here.  But I know I cannot honestly give a complete yes to each of these questions.  I constantly fail at these things.  Our calling, especially in this Easter season, is to remember that Jesus gave up his life for us.  We can honor, respect, and receive him on a regular basis through the Eucharist.  As Catholics we believe that there is nothing more important or powerful on the face of this earth than the Eucharist.  Let this Easter season be a time for us to truly express that belief through words and actions both in and outside of Mass.