Sunday Reflection: Weekend of 18 June 2017

The Body and Blood of Christ | Year A

John 6:51-58

Jesus said to the Jews:

‘I am the living bread which has come down from heaven.
Anyone who eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I shall give
is my flesh, for the life of the world.’

Then the Jews started arguing with one another: ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ they said. Jesus replied:

‘I tell you solemnly,
if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man
and drink his blood,
you will not have life in you.
Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood
has eternal life,
and I shall raise him up on the last day.
For my flesh is real food
and my blood is real drink.
He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood
lives in me and I live in him.
As I, who am sent by the living Father,
myself draw life from the Father,
so whoever eats me will draw life from me.
This is the bread come down from heaven;
not like the bread our ancestors ate;
they are dead,
but anyone who eats this bread will live for ever.’

Reflection

Each of us has inner resources we can draw on in times of difficulty or crisis. We are all different in the form and extent of our inner resources. Most of us barely know the extent of our inner resources because they have never been tested fully (for which we can be truly grateful).

Our inner strength is more than the means to respond to a crisis. It enables us to do the personal work needed on ourselves and our relationships, so that they conform to gospel values. Self-discipline and commitment are products of inner strength.

We are human and have limits. On our own, our inner strength is limited. But if we receive the Eucharist regularly we will “draw life” from Jesus, as he draws life from the Father. It is the miracle of this relationship, this gift, that allows us to transcend our personal limitations.

In drawing life from Jesus through the Eucharist we are sustained and strengthened as we seek to follow him, each day, in good times and in difficult times.