Friars Corner: Jesus in the Eucharist fills us with joy
Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR
I Kings 19:4-8; Psalms 34; Ephesians 4:30–5:2; John 6:41-51
Again this week we continue reflecting on God providing us with his bread from heaven. The first reading dealt with Elijah fleeing from Jezebel’s forces that wanted to kill him. In his flight, he fell asleep under a broom tree. An angel woke him to eat the hearth cake he brought him and drink some water. He ate and fell asleep again. The angel woke him again to eat and drink for his 40-day journey to Horeb, the mountain of God.
Psalm 34 speaks about God’s provision when we are afflicted and distressed. God’s provisions make us radiant with joy.
From St. John today (chapter 6:1-51) we read how the Jews are murmuring against Jesus’ statements about him saying, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” Jesus replied that no one can come to him unless the Father draws them. Jesus is telling them that if they worship God, they would listen to him and believe in him. If they would believe in him they would have eternal life. These statements surely were shocking to them.
What do you mean?
Then Jesus goes on to say again, “I am the bread of life.” We have to remember in John that the people and ourselves are thinking at a physical level and the Holy Spirit is trying to raise us to the spiritual level. Jesus told them that if they eat his bread they will not die. Stop Lord, what do you mean? Jesus went on to say,
I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever, and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.
We know many in our lifetime that often and sometimes daily go to Mass and receive Jesus in communion, my father among them. Yet they still died.
Jesus does not fully explain what he fully meant, nor how he could ever give people his flesh to eat. A good many people left Jesus at that point. Come now almost 2,000 years later and ask what did Jesus really mean? What happens at frequent or even daily Mass all over the world?
Fed at two levels
Is Jesus not feeding people at two levels? First, teaching us how to live in his new kingdom through the Scriptures and second, multiplying the bread (hosts) and wine to feed us with his true bread, his real presence, in the words, “This is my Body. This is the cup of my Blood for the forgiveness of sins.“
We don’t fully understand here on earth in our finite minds. Yet many of us believe we are receiving the living Jesus, body and blood, soul and divinity. Yes, Jesus, we believe and want to know you more. You feed us with your Body and Blood, divine power, to be filled up and go out into the world “radiating Your joy.” Thank You, Jesus, for we are so unworthy.
May God the Holy Spirit give all who still attend Sunday Mass a double anointing and “turn the lights on in their mind” so that they understand this mystery and long to be fed more with this precious miracle each day. “O come let us adore him, Jesus our Lord.” I will attach an outline on all of John 6 so you can see it clearly and then read and underline these main points in your own New Testaments. Or you can request it by email.
Love, peace and joy,
(© 2018 Fr. Bob Hilz, TOR)
