Today’s Scripture Readings

Gospel Reading

NRSV

The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live for ever.’ He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.

This section of John’s gospel reflects on the centrality of the gift of the Eucharist in our lives. Jesus is the bread of life, the food for our journey as we live as his disciples wherever we are called to serve: whether in our families, our workplaces, our neighbourhoods, and our faith communities. Food for our journey is essential, and this gift that Jesus gives, enables us to be sustained to strengthen our commitment to ‘be the eucharist’ to our sisters and brothers.

St. Augustine taught about the Eucharist… “Become what you receive!” How do these words challenge us today? When we eat and drink the Body and Blood of Jesus, we commit ourselves to be this presence of Christ as we live strengthened by the power of the Spirit. We can be life-giving food and drink to our sisters and brothers in so many ways – feeding the hungry, visiting the sick and house-bound, caring for those who are struggling in difficult situations, speaking a comforting word to those who mourn the loss of a loved one – we are being the presence of Christ, being a witness to his life-giving presence!

Are we prepared to say YES to this call as his disciples?