Daily Gospel Reflection for April 16, 2016

Today's Gospel: John 6, 60-69

“This saying is hard, who can accept it?”

Christ was clear as crystal the day he spoke to the crowd in Capernaum.

My Father sent me. Everyone who comes to me is sent by the Father. Everyone who believes and eats my flesh and drinks my blood will live forever.

When people balked at this, Christ didn’t walk it back – he double-dared them. In the entire Bread of Life Discourse, he said they would have “to eat my flesh and drink my blood" four separate times. He told them twelve times he was the bread that came down from heaven.

Many who had been following the Lord threw their hands up and walked away. It’s even more depressing – the Bible says they “returned to their former way of life.” They went backwards.

When Christ turned to his disciples and asked them if they too wanted to leave, Peter didn’t say they understood, he didn’t even say they believed everything they’d just heard. He said, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

Well there it is, my Catholic sisters and brothers. We’ve chosen to stay. We don’t get all of it. We don’t understand how "that" works. But the one who said it - is trustworthy. We believe in and trust Christ.

We say, the Sacrament of the Eucharist? It’s real.

We say, the body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ in the Eucharist? It’s real.

Being a Catholic is not for the faint of heart. So, receive the One who offers you all the help you will ever need.

Remember who you are – you are the one who stays for the One who saves.

Ponder:

When was the last time I approached the Eucharist like I believed? When was the last time I spoke the truth about the Eucharist to anyone?

Pray:

O Lord, help me not be afraid: to show with my body what my heart feels - I can drop to my knees to receive, or kneel on one knee or bow slowly; help me find the words you want me to say to someone who needs to hear them.

Copyright 2016 Annette K. Tenny

Annette K Tenny is a freelance writer, member of the Catholic Writers Guild, and a regular contributor to the Catholic News Herald, the Charlotte NC Diocesan newspaper.