The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ
Scripture:
Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a
1 Corinthians 10:16-17
John 6:51-58
Reflection:
"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." John 6:51
Bread has often been used as a source of physical nourishment throughout history. But Jesus, as the bread of life, is a constant source of nourishment for our faith and being in our journey through life.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus says, "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him." At Mass, we witness the Consecration that transforms the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ. Through this transformation, we believe. Our faith, our spirit, our being, is strengthened by Jesus’ selfless act of love through his passion, death and the hope of the resurrection.
Strengthened by the Body and Blood of Jesus, we offer nourishment to others. Perhaps it is a shoulder to lean on when someone is down, or a few dollars for someone who does not have enough for medicine, or to pay bills. Maybe we pull over to the side of the road to help a stranger with car trouble. All of these acts are Jesus in us.
As long as we believe and we continually strive to be nourished by the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, we will feel His love in us as we go forward on our journey to eternal life.
Claire Smith is on staff at the Holy Cross Province Development Office in Chicago, Illinois.