Today's reading continues through what is often referred to as the “Bread of Life Discourse” in the Gospel of John. It's in this discourse that Jesus introduces a bold new reality, declaring, “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.” (Jn 6:51).

Imagine you're a Jew in the Synagogue while Christ is preaching and you're hearing this for the first time. For you, this statement is mind-boggling or even scandalous. Jesus likely noticed this unrest in his audience as well. However, as always, he doesn’t back down; he doubles down. As writer Dan Gonzalez explains in his article Bread of Life Discourse, “Jesus used various forms of the verb 'phago', which means to eat...However, after the Jews begin to express incredulity at the idea of eating Christ’s flesh, Jesus intensifies his language. In reiterating his command, he exchanges the word 'phago' for 'trago' which is a more intense word. It doesn’t simply mean eat, but rather to gnaw on or chew.”

A common argument against the True Presence of Christ in the Eucharist is that Jesus doesn’t actually mean what he says here in John’s Gospel, that it’s a “metaphor”. However, many of his disciples left him because of these words. If Jesus was not being literal, why would he knowingly lead his disciples astray by offering no correction?

Take time to think about Christ's words here. Do you feel challenged by what he's saying? Or do you feel drawn more deeply into the mystery of the Eucharist?

Lord, grant us the grace to trust in you and your word, to fully accept your true presence in the Eucharist, and to allow your most Precious Body and Blood to transform our hearts and minds. Amen.