Jesus said to the Jewish crowds: “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.” The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”
Homily
Jesus Longs to Stay with Us
The Catholic Church teaches very clearly that: “In the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Eucharist, the Body and Blood, together with the Soul and Divinity of our Lord Jesus Christ, and therefore, the whole Christ, is truly, really and substantially contained.” (CCC, #1374)
That’s why St Paul, in our second reading, calls Holy Communion a “participation” in the Body and Blood of Christ. And that's why Jesus, in today’s Gospel, repeats six times—SIX times!—that his flesh is real food and his blood is real drink.
This wonderful, mind-boggling mystery shows just how much God loves us. He loves us so much that he wants his own life to flow through us; he wants to be with us always and everywhere, until he brings us to be with him forever in heaven.
Our Lord Jesus Christ, truly present in the Eucharist, is the everlasting fulfillment of the ancient prophecy that our Savior will be Immanuel (God with us).
Visiting the Tabernacle
That’s why the Church encourages her children to make frequent visits to the tabernacle. The red sanctuary lamp near the tabernacle is a constant reminder that Christ is truly present there, with his burning love for us.
That's also why Catholics still practice the tradition of making the Sign of the Cross when they drive by a Catholic Church. Even if we don’t have time to stop for a visit, by making the Sign of the Cross we show our love and appreciation for the Lord's constant Eucharistic presence.
St Peter Julian Eymund, who lived in France in the 1800s, beautifully explained how the Lord’s constant presence in the Eucharist shows just how much he loves us. The saint reminds us, “He loves, He hopes, He waits. If He came down on our altars only on certain days, some sinner, on being moved to repentance, might have to look for Him, and not finding Him, might have to wait. But our Lord prefers to wait for the sinner rather than to keep him waiting one instant.” Only a God who truly longs to stay with us could have invented the Eucharist!
Receiving Holy Communion Worthily
Jesus wants us to stay as close to him as he is to us, because only he can bring us true and lasting happiness; only he can save us from sin and lead us to Heaven.
Today, let’s renew our faith in this great sacrament. And let’s also renew our commitment to receive Holy Communion in a worthy manner. Here are four ways to accomplish this:
1. Come to church early so you can pray in silence before Mass begins.
2. Speak only when you absolutely have to in a quiet voice out of respect for the Eucharist and those who are praying.
3. Dress modestly when you come to Mass. Remember, you’re about to receive your King.
4. Try to go to Confession regularly so that your soul will be clean and in a state of grace to receive the Lord.
In just a few moments Jesus will renew his commitment to us by offering himself in the Eucharist. And when he does, let’s also renew our commitment to him. Amen!