Reading I: 1 Kings 19:4-8
Reading II: Ephesians 4:30-5:2
GOSPEL: John 6:41-51
The Bread of Life
“Does the Church still teach that ‘transubstantiation’ thing? No one believes it magically turns into Jesus’ flesh and blood! It’s just a symbol, right?”
I stood there staring at her, trying to decide if she was joking or not. The look on her face made the truth plain: she didn’t believe that Christ is truly present in the Eucharist, and assumed that no one else did either. In fact, she was so secure in her belief that she was shocked to hear me tell her otherwise.
Some Things Never Change
Jesus told the people, “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)
Some things never change. Two thousand years ago, when Jesus first spoke these words, people had a hard time believing it. After all, they knew his parents. They knew where he lived. How could he possibly have come from heaven – and why in the world would he tell people that they could not get to God without gnawing on his flesh?!
Of course he revealed everything later, his words becoming clear at the last supper. Through the Sacrament of the Eucharist, we are able to join in Jesus’ final sacrifice and eat the bread of life – the body and blood of Jesus Christ.
Seeing With Your Eyes of Faith
Even before my oldest son was learning about the Eucharist in preparation for his First Communion, he had already asked me questions about the bread and wine becoming the body and blood of Jesus. It’s amazing how trusting and full of faith a child can be.
“So,” he said, his eyebrows scrunched in thought, “the bread and wine become Jesus’ body and blood – but they still taste like bread and wine. Neat! It’s like God doing a miracle for us every week!”
And that’s exactly what it is. Jesus was very clear about it, and the early Church fathers were very clear in their understanding of it. The Son of our Lord God Almighty (Creator of Everything, Author of All) is really, truly, fully present in the Eucharist. Is that really so hard to believe?
Apparently it was for the young lady I mentioned earlier who was amazed to discover that the Church still teaches “that transubstantiation thing.” So to her and anyone else who doubts, my son and I have this to say: God can do anything.
So let’s not look at the Eucharist with skepticism – let’s look at it with our eyes of faith. The Real Presence is neither some antiquated belief nor an optional belief. The reason the Eucharist is “the source and summit of the Christian life” is because Jesus is fully present in it. It truly is the bread of life!
Life Applications:
How would you explain transubstantiation and the real presence to a non-Catholic?
Do you truly believe that Jesus is present in the Eucharist?
How special does Mass seem when you consider that Jesus is truly there?
Check out the REAL Word Podcast for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle B):
Original article by Brandon Jubar, 2003-2021.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.