John 6
“The bread of life” - there would be no Catholic who has never heard this phrase. This is another name for the Eucharist and Holy Communion, the body and blood of Christ Jesus. This is the single most important object of our faith. This is the identity indicator of the whole Catholic Christendom. And this is what Jesus presents in chapter 6 of St. John’s gospel, which we read today.
Then, why this bread of life is so critical in our faith? We don’t have to guess since Jesus gives the answer in the same passage. It’s because this bread of life, the body and blood of Christ gives life everlasting.
Life everlasting. The everlasting life presupposes life finite, a life that has to come to an end by death. When the shadow of death is thick and dark, we finally desire life everlasting. A person who does not know death does not desire life eternal.
It may be depressing to reflect on death. But without reflection on death and our eternal destiny, we are not able to make prudent decisions even for this life. I have made many imprudent, wrong, and sinful decisions because I had not had a clear vision of death. Blind to death, we are likely to have a false sense of security. When this false sense of security is combined with pride, there can be a deadly outcome - either physically or spiritually or both.
In a sense, this time, when death is everywhere, it is a time of blessing because we are all the more aware of the reality of death. This awareness will lead us to the desire for life that does not end. And once again we remember the promise of Christ Jesus: “Whoever eats this bread and drink this cup will never die, will have eternal life.”
