TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

True Presence

"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" (John 6:55-56).

I can only imagine how the hearing of these words shocked the disciples who were following Jesus. Healings — yes. Multiplication of five loaves and two fish to feed a crowd of 5,000 — yes. Eating Jesus' flesh and drinking His blood — WHAT? Sounds horrifying. The continuation of this story (not included in this Sunday's reading), tells us that many of those disciples left and returned to their former way of life because those teachings were "hard," and offensive to some. But the apostles remained: "You have the words of everlasting life." I think they were saying, as I might, We don't fully understand what you mean or how that happens, but we know you are the 'Holy One of God’ and we accept that what you speak is truth.

How can this be? it looks like bread (a white wafer); it looks like wine. Real flesh and real blood? My metaphysics class as a Marylhurst sophomore (and a new Catholic) helped to deepen my understanding of this tension of faith: God can change the substance (the flesh) while retaining the physical appearances (of bread). But the mystery remains. The rest depends upon the grace of faith; I trust what He says. He is truly present.

What will it mean if I do eat and drink? There is more than just eating and drinking here. As food becomes a part of my body, Jesus becomes a part of me. Oh! That means I am saying "Yes" to being transformed — to love as He loves; to forgive as He forgives; to act as He acts; to become like Him. Eating the bread and drinking the wine is just the first step: it gives me the strength I need to do His will. 

This is radical trust. It is choosing the banquet to which Wisdom invites us. It is tasting and seeing the goodness of the Lord. It is joy.

–Monica Thursam

Send Us Forth are reflections written by St. Matthew parishioners and friends.