Reflection on Jn 6:54-56
Jn 6:54-56: “Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.”
Chapter six of the Gospel of John describes the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves, when Jesus fed five thousand people and twelve baskets were filled with leftovers. Then Jesus departed to a deserted place by Himself and prayed there. The Apostles went over the sea in a boat and Jesus was walking on the sea. On the next day, the people who had eaten of the loaves and been filled came to Jesus and He spoke about the bread from heaven. He said: “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” And then: “I am the living bread. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. If any man eats of this bread, he shall not die.” He also said (v.53): “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.”
Jesus spoke about a mystery which the Apostles partly understood not until the evening before His death when He took the bread and said: “This is My body which is given for you,” and likewise the cup, saying: “This is My blood” (Mt 26:26-28). Many of those who had been witnesses to the miracle of feeding with bread took offence at Jesus’ words concerning the mystery of the Eucharist, and even many of His disciples deserted Him. Jesus said to the Twelve: “Do you also want to go away?” Peter answered Him: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Some of you receive Holy Communion every Sunday. The priest giving Communion says: “The servant of God N…, partakes of the precious, most holy and most pure Body and Blood of our Lord, God and Saviour Jesus Christ for the remission of his (or: her) sins and for life everlasting.” On Saturday evening or Sunday morning, realize that your soul is going to receive the Saviour Himself under the species of bread and wine. Imagine that the Holy Eucharist could be received only once in our life and only in one place in the world. All genuine Christians would long to receive the living Christ in Holy Communion. That day would be filled with great joy and gratitude. They would try to keep in mind that they are living tabernacles, that Jesus has come into their souls today. They would repeat and live the words of Jesus: “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.” That day would be a red-letter day which they would remember for all their life. They would remember that on that historic day they encountered and united to Christ in a mysterious way. We often receive Holy Communion. We can encounter Christ in this mysterious way every week.
A certain saint spent three days before Sunday in joyful expectation of his encounter with Jesus. And three days after Sunday he gave thanks for Jesus coming into his soul. Every day we can experience the moment of receiving Holy Communion spiritually at least for one minute.
Before we encounter Christ, our heart should be filled with a desire coupled with contrition for our lack of love for Jesus and for our indifference concerning Him and His things. How much time we devote to television, idle talk or useless information, and how little time we devote to interior prayer to encounter Christ. Prayer is the best preparation for worthy reception of Christ on His holy day.
Every Sunday we commemorate the Resurrection of Christ as well as the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. We want to devote this day to prayer, God’s Word and fellowship, and to participate in the Divine Liturgy. The reception of Holy Communion ought to be prepared for at least by a short act of contrition for our sins. After Holy Communion, realize at least for a moment that Jesus is in you, and you in Him. You can repeat the words of Christ: “He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him” and you can add: “Jesus, You gave Your life for me. I prefer to die rather than betray You.”
