Posted on April 20, 2024
Catechism Meditation:
The first announcement of the Eucharist divided the disciples, just as the announcement of the Passion scandalized them: “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” The Eucharist and the Cross are stumbling blocks. It is the same mystery and it never ceases to be an occasion of division. “Will you also go away?”: the Lord’s question echoes through the ages, as a loving invitation to discover that only he has “the words of eternal life” and that to receive in faith the gift of his Eucharist is to receive the Lord himself. ―No. 1336
REFLECTION. Our Lord tells His disciples that there is a deeper truth, a divine mystery that He is giving to them. It defies their narrow understanding and their limited experience. It is the mystery of a loving Presence that is right before them. When Jesus poses the question, “Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?” (Jn 6:62). He is trying to open their eyes to the reality that He is above all they can imagine. Out of pure love, He will really hand Himself over to them as the Living Bread come down from heaven in the Holy Eucharist. If only they could see who He truly is and what a tremendous gift He is giving them, they would live in amazing joy!
PRAYER. My God, I believe that You are truly present under the appearance of bread. Help me to please You by being truly present to You, with my heart in the heart of Mary, trusting, rejoicing, and giving thanks.
Timeless Wisdom Quote:
“The Eucharist is so essential to our one-ness with Christ that as soon as Our Lord announced It in the Gospel, It began to be the test of the fidelity of His followers. First, He lost the masses, for it was too hard a saying and they no longer followed Him. Secondly, He lost some of His disciples: “They walked with Him no more.” Third, it split His apostolic band, for Judas is here announced as the betrayer.” ― Venerable Fulton J. Sheen
Featured Video:
The Disciples Doubted the Eucharist. Do You? (9:23)
