15-Apr-16

Gospel JN 6:52-59
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.”
These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
Reflection:
"The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying,
“How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?”
It makes perfect sense that "the Jews," many of whom were followers of Jesus, would be confused and even horrified by Jesus' claim that in order to "live forever," they must eat His flesh and drink His blood.
Further on in John's gospel, we read that after He spoke these words, many of Jesus' followers turned away from Him. "After this many of his disciples drew back and no longer went about with him." John 6:66
Even today, although those who belong to other Christian denominations consume bread and wine during their religious services, they do not accept that it is the actual body and blood of our Lord.
Belief in the consubstantiation of the bread and wine during the consecration is a not a matter of proof; it is a matter of faith.
The bread and wine are there, and our individual faith allows us to accept them as the body and blood of Christ.
At My Brother's Keeper, people of all religions and beliefs come together not to argue doctrine, but to fulfill Jesus' two great commandments that we should love God and love our neighbor as ourselves.
As countless missionaries have done before us, we go into the neighborhoods to serve Christians, Jews and Muslims as well as non-believers.
We spread our mission by offering a crucifix to every person, with the message, "This is the man who sent you the furniture."
The vast majority of those we serve accept the crucifix with reverence and gratitude.
Occasionally, someone politely declines the crucifix and sincerely thanks us for our help.
Just as it was for the early disciples, it is up to those whom we serve to decide what they believe.
Jesus calls us to serve without judgement and to plant the seeds of His love and hope in everyone.

"Never underestimate the power of a planted seed." - - Unknown