Jesus reveals the reality of His Real Presence in the Eucharist. Every Catholic man can grow in happiness by building the Virtue of Prudence so he can be reassured of that Christ is dwelling in his soul and by pursuing the Virtue of Piety so each time he receives the Sacrament of the Eucharist he receives it as if it were his last.
Liturgy
3rd Week of Easter – Friday – Jn 6:52-59
Commentary
Nearing the end of The Sermon of the Bread of Life, after revealing He is the Son of God who came down from Heaven and is the Bread of Life, Jesus stunned the crowd by revealing that His glorified flesh is the “Bread of Life” men must eat to receive eternal life. Previously, Jesus bluntly rebuked the Jews who quietly murmured among themselves because they were skeptical of His claim to have “come down from Heaven”. Now, the Jews break into a violent argument over Jesus’ stunning revelation that they must eat His flesh, confused because they assume Jesus is suggesting cannibalism, something repugnant and forbidden (Deut 28:53).
Rather than relieve their confusion, Jesus takes it further, insisting not only must men eat His flesh, but must also drink His blood, a practice absolutely forbidden even for animal blood (Gen 9:4, Lev 17:10-14); Jesus’ reference to His Body and Blood is a mysterious revelation of the Eucharist. Jesus does not tone things down or attempt to clarify He is speaking figuratively (for example, “to eat of His wisdom”); instead, He further inflames things by using a very graphic word for “eat” (Greek: trogo) which means “to gnaw.” Jesus insists for men to be raised up on the Last Day, they must “gnaw” on the real food of His flesh and drink His blood.
Jesus, for His own mysterious purpose, does not alleviate the confusion of the Jews who imagine He is speaking of cannibalism and drinking forbidden blood. Jesus is not speaking figuratively, but offering a mysterious preview of His Resurrection and His Glorified Body. It is His resurrected glorified flesh and blood in the Eucharist which will give eternal spiritual life to faithful Catholics, not the physical flesh and blood of His Incarnation. Jesus, the Son of God, promises to abide in the souls of men who faithfully receive His Body and Blood.
Be awed by Jesus Christ
Be stunned and awed by Jesus’ revelation in The Bread of Life Sermon: full of Divine Knowledge, Jesus makes no mistake when He explicitly uses taboo language that implies cannibalism to tell men they must “gnaw” on His flesh and drink His blood to receive eternal life; Divine Fortitude, Jesus courageously confronts the angry reaction of the multitude when they revolt against His description of the Sacrament of the Eucharist and He does not back down an inch.
Be reassured and joyful by the Indwelling Christ
Realize: While men can feel human loneliness and the feeling of being separated from God, a Catholic man can take comfort in the reality that God is always present in his soul.
Believe: Reflect upon Jesus’ amazing promise to Abide with His Men (CCC 787, 1391, 1406).
Pray: Jesus, Indwelling Christ, help me grow in the Virtue of Prudence so I build a daily routine to remember and be strengthened by Your constant Presence in my daily life and frequently seek Your guidance in my ongoing Spiritual Combat.
Receive every Eucharist as if it were your last
Realize: A Catholic man can sometimes have a dry, lifeless, or bored experience of the Mass due to a lack of understanding of the glory of the Mass, failure to prepare, unconfessed sin, his own lack of reverence, or an irreverent liturgy.
Believe: Return to Jesus’ amazing Invitation to Communion (CCC 1384-1390).
Pray: Jesus, Divine Priest, help me grow in the Virtue of Piety (a part of Justice) so I am prepared, reverent and hungry to receive You in the Eucharist and accept the many graces You wish to give me.