In John six, Jesus teaches about giving Himself to us in the Eucharist.
The multitudes had followed him everywhere, hanging on his every word and rejoicing at his miracles. Yet, when he speaks of consuming his flesh and his blood, of literally taking him into our own bodies, his friends and disciples are beyond scandalized.
The law prohibited consumption of blood; how can their master be serious? Many simply cannot get beyond the literal meaning of Jesus’s words and they abandon him. Jesus could have stopped them by saying that he was speaking symbolically, but he let them go.
Because our Lord made exactly what he said, like the Passover Lamb of the Old Testament, his flesh is to be consumed to bring salvation not only to the chosen people, but to the entire world. Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist.
Come, let us adore him.
