Sensible Mystery
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
whoever believes has eternal life.
I am the bread of life.”John 6:47-48
Have you ever came across something and asked yourself “Wait. What?” Perhaps when Jesus said that He was the bread of life, believers and non-believers responded in a similar way, “Wait. What does that mean?” But, can you blame them? Even the disciples were not exactly sure what Jesus meant and stopped following Him. However, if you listen closely to Jesus, He explains what He means, and if you know the Scriptures, you might come to slowly understand what He might be saying. In the past, the people ate bread that left them hungry — physically and spiritually — but that bread that He now brings and gives, Himself, will leave them satisfied. Not only that, but this bread, even in death, will enable them to live. “Wait. What?!”
The Catholic Church in the United States is in the midst of a three-year “Eucharistic Revival” with the intention to stir up in the hearts of the faithful once again what the disciples on the Road to Emmaus felt — a sense of burning, burning with love and joy and excitement. Why? Because Jesus was in their midst. And, Jesus is in our midst today. Jesus said that He is the bread of life, and that this bread is His “flesh for the life of the world.” This bread that is taken, blessed, broken, and given is Jesus Christ Himself. The ineffable mystery and greatest love story ever told that is re-presented at every Mass on the altar, is Jesus Himself. I am the bread of life. Do you believe?
When the priest says those words of consecration and when he calls down the power of the Holy Spirit, the bread and wine becomes the body and blood of Jesus. It becomes the flesh of the life of the world. It becomes the bread of life that gives us eternal life. A mystery that no eye can perceive, but can be felt and experienced by the heart. Only an encounter with the Lord and an openness to His love can enable us to experience this mystery of love. With that being said, it means that one must have a relationship with Jesus in order for them to slowly and gradually come to faith. The truth and fact that the Eucharist is Jesus’s body, blood, soul, and divinity never changes. The bread that is consecrated becomes Jesus — this never changes, even if you do not believe. The real presence is a truth, but sadly many people, even baptized Catholics do not believe this. This does not make the Eucharist any less real. Just because people do not believe in God does not negate the fact that He exists. So, for those who do not believe, the question is not whether the Eucharist is truly Jesus or not; the question one must ask him or herself is “If Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist, why does my heart not burn in His presence?” And then ask Jesus, “Why do I not believe that You are present in the Eucharist?” This will open up a relationship with the Lord. Trust that He will speak to you. Keep asking. Keep speaking. Keep listening. He will come to you. This mystery will one day become the perceptible reality that it is to you if you keep talking with Jesus. With your eyes closed, in the quiet of your heart you will hear Jesus say, “I am the bread of life given for you” and when you open your eyes, you will feel in your heart that burning love that is God. Then, that “Wait. What?” will come not from a place of confusion or doubt, but rather a place of gratitude: “Wait. What? God loves me that much?” Yes, yes, He does. He really does.
Watch this week’s reflection below.
