The Food He Promises Carries The Seed of Life.
Dear Parishioners,
The sixth chapter of John’s Gospel, read on the last three Sundays, reached a high point today with Jesus presenting himself as the true food coming down from heaven, and to reject it is to reject life. Jesus took a stand and was not ready to back down on his bold proposal. “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day” He was not in the mood for argument. He was straightforward and vigorous. It shows the importance of this new teaching.
The food that he gives is indispensable for anyone who wants to live. It guarantees the possession of eternal life. This idea of eternal life must have been confusing to his audience. The Hebrew theology did not say much about eternal life; what happens after death is surrounded with mystery and fear. But Jesus is changing all that. He speaks with authority and conviction. He personalized life; he guarantees it. He takes away the darkness surrounding death and speaks of himself as master over sin, death and life.
Jesus offers us something much bigger to comprehend. The food he promises carries within it the seed of life that cannot be destroyed, nor has it ever been given to humanity. The flesh and blood of Jesus defies death and gives life to anyone who receives it. Some in the crowd with Jesus understood this teaching from the physical cannibalistic sense, and for that were unable to accept it. They were not ready to be taught or catechized by our Lord Jesus. They wanted miracles, not hard truth of faith.
Today, many are in the same boat or frame of mind. They want an easy life and are unable to accept the hard realities of faith. Many prefer to live their lives without reading the scriptures for sound moral guidelines. Others prefer to rewrite the Ten Commandment to suit their way of life. Sometimes, we turn deaf ears to Jesus, just like the crowd who rejected his teaching in today’s gospel. We pick and choose what to believe and what to practice. How long are we going to deceive ourselves? God is the source of all wisdom; he made us and now sends his Son Jesus to guide us through the path of life.
This is not magic. God is doing something here. In his wisdom he reveals himself to us through Jesus, the Word that became life. Through the means of food, we can now access this life-giving energy that is stronger than death. It is a privilege to share this very life of God. The person who eats this food “will have life because of me.” says the Lord. When you receive the Lord, you in turn become the very presence of the Word made flesh. Hearing this makes me feel ashamed of the way we treat the Sacrament of his body and blood.
I hope, from now on, our attitude toward the Eucharist will change. Let every Mass we celebrate be as noble as the first and only Mass of our life. Each time we participate in the Mass, we are doing something necessary and serious. It is truly the Sacrament of the poor, the sinful, and the famished. Once we have received the body and blood of Christ, Saint Paul tells us to “Watch carefully how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what the will of the Lord is.”
Sincerely Yours In Christ,
Fr. Vitalis Anyanike, Pastor
