THE LIVING BREAD FOR ALL

HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

Every one of us can unanimously agree that bread is a common type of food. It is readily available. In fact, the scarcity of bread in any society is a sign of a general food scarcity. It is almost impossible to get someone who says he or she is allergic to bread. It is also almost inconceivable to think of any society that has no bakery for bread. This is how it is also unthinkable to me that we can find someone who has never eaten bread. It is this meal that is readily available that Jesus employs when talking about himself. As the bread is well-known and appreciated by everyone, Christ makes himself well-known and important for all. As the bread is available, Christ convinces us of his availability for us. As the consumption of bread is enjoyed by everyone, Christ reveals himself as a person who is for all, not for a few; and therefore disposed to feed all. Today, the Church calls our mind to the Body and Blood of Christ. It is a feast that reminds us of the importance of the real presence of Christ in the Eucharistic meal, which Christ makes available daily to us, and which we are called to partake of daily. Christ says in the Gospel (John 6:51-58): I AM THE LIVING (NOT DEAD) BREAD.

Someone asked me: But why do we celebrate the Body and Blood of Christ today where as Jesus refers himself as the living bread which is one of the species transubstantiated into the body and blood of Christ? I quickly answered: this is the same as the question a catechism boy asked me why the priest during communion gives him only the body without the blood of Christ. At this intervention, he quickly understood himself that according to the Tridentine Council begun in 1545, this problem was resolved that in the body is contained the blood and vice versa. What this means is that when you receive the body, you also receive the blood. Drawing from this analogy, the Christ calls himself the living bread, not in separation of the blood. Even as the Gospel progresses, we see Jesus saying it explicitly that we must eat the body and drink the blood for the assurance of eternal life.

 

As soon as Jesus said he is the living bread, the Jews were thrown into confusion and dispute arose among them. There are three interpretations that may arise from the dispute among these religious men. The first is that some may have thought to themselves that he was merely speaking in parables as he usually did. The second is that those who think in material terms thought to themselves that he was joking as no man can give a follow man his flesh to eat; otherwise it becomes cannibalistic. The third is that it is most probable that a few of his disciples understood Jesus. However, the central point is that the message of Jesus (who constantly made claims after claims that were really unusual) troubled the Jews that they began to argue among themselves what he meant. Jesus retorted with a more shocking message: Unless a man partakes of him, he/she has no life dwelling in him. This implies that unless a man receives Christ, he has no life dwelling in Him. He is dead. Partaking of this living bread which is Christ is most essential for eternal life, just as eating and drinking is essential for earthly life. There are two implications of not partaking: physically, the person is in the process of aging and dying, and of living in the realm of death and being doomed to die. Spiritually, he is already dead because he is doomed to eternal death and separation from God.

Whoever eats on my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, said Jesus. This is in contrast to the manna and water of the first reading (Deut. 8:2-3. 14b-16a) where the Israelites ate and drank as we were never told that they ceased to be hungry or thirsty again. That food was preparatory for the actual food (Christ) which assures eternal life. The body and blood of Christ is our food for the journey towards eternity. Partaking of it has many positive consequences.

1. In John 6:54, the result is eternal life. The word trogon translated as ‘eat’ in this verse is somewhat different. It implies to eat eagerly, to grasp at chunks and to eat with pleasure. If we conjure in our minds the picture of hungering after a meal and struggling to have the lion’s share, then it all means we should hunger for Christ and wait eagerly to feed and feast on him. The tense of the word (eat) is also different. It implies continuity. A person must continue to eat and grow into the habit of feasting upon Christ. Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned (John 5:24). Now, this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent (John 17:3).

2. In John 6:55, the result is true satisfaction. The flesh and the blood are real and provide true satisfaction. The word alethes translated as true implies real as opposed to falsehood. Material things do not provide true satisfaction. They do not last and do not ensure security nor confidence. It rather makes men more empty, void and unsatisfied. True satisfaction comes from receiving Christ into one’s life. One must receive Christ in the most intimate and nourishing sense in order to have true life. He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things (Ps. 107:9). Never will they hunger; never will they thirst; the sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat (Rev. 7:16).

3. In John 6:56, the result is supernatural companionship and fellowship, care and being looked after. The word menei means ‘remains’ or ‘abides’. It means to be fixed and set, remaining there forever. The person receives Christ as Christ enters the person’s life, remaining with him. The person is also placed into Christ enjoys with other believers the dwelling in the spiritual body of Christ.  The second Reading (1 Cor. 10:16-17) was explicit on it. It is because theloaf of bread is one that we are one body, since we all partake of the one loaf. If Christ is in us and we in Christ, our security is then assured. Remain in me, and I in you...apart from me, you can do nothing (John 15:4-5). Those who obey his commands live in him and he in them (1 John 3:24). Jesus stands at the door knocking; if anyone on hearing his voice opens the door, he will then come in and eat with him, and he with him (Rev. 3:20).

4. In John 6: 57, the result is a purposeful life. The man who receives Christ lives because of Christ. He has a purpose. He now sees the meaning and significance of life amidst its vicissitudes. He sees that life tends to be meaningless without fellow Christians. Paul said, for me, to live is Christ and to die is gain (Phil.1:21). And therefore, I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me (Gal 2:2).

5. In John 6:58, the result is incorruptible food in our hearts; agility forever. It is the living bread. It is Christ himself who energizes and quickens a man to live forever. Christ has the quality, the power, the substance to energize a man and give him eternal life. He alone has such power. In him was life and that life was the light of men (John 1:4); as the father has life, so he has granted the son to have life in himself (John 5:26).

One last advice; have a continuous hunger for the Holy Communion never lose the consciousness of appropriate preparedness for its reception. There are two things the devil is afraid of: fervent communion and frequent visit to the blessed Sacrament (St. Johnbosco)  May Corpus et Sanguis Christi  be our strength and hope. Amen. God bless you.