When reading some texts of the gospel, I like to note the reaction of people listening to Jesus.
Today’s text shows us the listeners of Jesus reacting to his saying that he is the bread of life (John 6:51-58).
We are told:
“The Jews began to argue sharply among themselves”.
They simply cannot agree between them on the meaning of Jesus’ message.
Of course, his words were rather astonishing.
He was saying that the bread he was offering came down from heaven.
Anyone eating it would not die but live on for ever.
He added that the food he wanted to give them was his own body and blood.
We must admit that this way of speaking is far from usual.
A human being telling others to… eat his flesh and blood.
Our own reaction may be astonishment, yes, but even, possibly, refusal to believe.
We may feel that this is… beyond what we can accept and… do…
We have to realize that God is precisely… beyond –
beyond what our intelligence can grasp…
beyond what our minds can imagine…
beyond what seems to us logical and acceptable…
This is where we come to what spiritual writers call ‘the leap of faith’…
And it is a mighty one!…
A leap that brings us into God’s own way of being – exactly what he wants to share with us.
Jesus says it clearly:
“As I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me”.
Amazing, but true.
Astonishing, but real.
God’s gift, purely and simply…
Note: Another text is available on a different theme, in French at: https://image-i-nations.com/fete-du-corps-et-du-sang-du-christ-annee-a-2023/
Source: Image: LDS.net