Working for the Word

Focusing the Gospel

Key words and phrases: Jesus said, eats my flesh, drinks my blood, eternal life, remains in me and I in him, life because of me, bread that came down from heaven

To the point: Jesus does not mince words! “The Jews quarreled” because Jesus says he gives his flesh to eat and his blood to drink. And he also promises “eternal life” to those who so eat and drink. And he also says that those who so eat and drink would be intimately related to him (“remain in me and I in him.”) And he also says that all life is because of him. And he also says that he is the “bread that came down from heaven.” No, Jesus does not mince words! Neither should we mince the way we live what Jesus says. We who eat his flesh and drink his blood are to live his life to the fullest.

Connecting the Gospel …

… to the First Reading: “Come, eat of my food.” In the First Reading an invitation for a banquet is put forth, and the food is meat and wine. In the gospel an invitation is also put forth for a banquet, and the meat and wine are Jesus' very flesh and blood.

… to experience: In our society we often celebrate intimate moments with , meals and sustain important relationships by sharing food, for example, family holiday meals and business luncheons. When we gather to share the meal Jesus provides for us, we celebrate the most intimate and important relationships we have—our union with Jesus and with one another through him.

**From Saint Louis University