DAILY PRAYER

“Many of his disciples who were listening said, ‘This saying is hard; who can accept it?’ Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you?”  (Jn 6:60-62)

The simple answer is YES. It did shock them.  It would shock us as well.  They well may have been appalled at that kind of discourse from yesterday’s Gospel reading: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Your ancestors ate manna and died, but whoever feeds on this bread will live forever” (Jn 6:54-58). 

“What on earth is Jesus saying?”  They may have asked themselves.  The disciples did not enjoy a two-thousand-year faith tradition of the Eucharistic Celebration.  They had no catechism of the Blessed Sacrament.  They were hearing such talk for the first time!  Eat my flesh?  Drink my blood?  Then, the Lord casually asks: “Does this shock you?” 

Yet, we who have been blessed with the knowledge of the Last Supper, the Resurrection, Conciliar Decrees, and a lifetime of teachings, are sloppy about our devotion and adoration to the Eucharist.  

Once the shock has worn off, now complacency enters.

Reflection and commentary

Psalm 111:10 “Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.”

OUR PRAYER CONTINUES