Reading

John 6:51-58

Jesus said to the Jews:

“I am the living bread which has come down from heaven.
Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever;
and the bread that I shall give
is my flesh, for the life of the world.”

Then the Jews started arguing with one another: “How can
this man give us his flesh to eat?” they said. Jesus replied:

“I tell you most solemnly,
if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man
and drink his blood,
you will not have life in you.
Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood
has eternal life,
and I shall raise him up on the last day.
For my flesh is real food
and my blood is real drink.
He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood
lives in me and I live in him.
As I, who am sent by the living Father,
myself draw life from the Father,
so whoever eats me will draw life from me.
This is the bread come down from heaven; not like the bread our ancestors ate:
they are dead,
but anyone who eats this bread will live forever.”

Contemplation

Let us start our contemplation by setting the scene. This passage comes towards the end of Chapter 6 in John’s Gospel. Before it, we hear about the multiplication of the loaves and the walking on the water, followed by Jesus’ explanation to the Jews and his disciples on the meaning of these two great miracles. With this in mind and with the help of the Spirit, let Jesus words on the Bread from Heaven unfold in your imagination.

• Who are you within the story? Are you one of the Disciples? One of the Jews? Perhaps a passer-by? Or someone else who is not mentioned in the passage.
• What kind of setting is Jesus talking to you from? Is it within the temple? Outside e.g. in the market place? In a large open space?
• How many people have gathered to listen to Jesus? Tens? Hundreds? Thousands?
• Where are you in this group? Front? Middle? Back? On the margins?
• What is the atmosphere like? Are those who have gathered attentive? Inspired? Hostile? Intrigued? Or perhaps a mixture of temperaments?
• What is going on in your mind as you hear Jesus tell you that he is the bread from heaven, that anyone who eats this bread will live forever and that this bread is his flesh? Do you think it is an invitation to cannibalism or do you think there is another meaning which you do not yet understand? Perhaps you think it is a way to bond with God in some mysterious manner.
• What about this eternal life Jesus is offering you if you eat his flesh and drink his blood? You know God fed your ancestors with manna from the desert and as Jesus rightly says they are all dead. Do you want this eternal life? Do you want Jesus to live in you? Do you want to draw life from Jesus? Do you believe he has been sent by God whom he calls his Father?
• From what you know of Jesus do you think in his narrative of his flesh and blood he may be asking us not to understand it but to experience it? At this point, is your faith being tested?
• What do you do next? Do you speak to him? Do you want things clarified or do you want to ponder on what Jesus has just said?

Sit and imagine the scene and perhaps write down how and what you feel, your emotions – anything that comes into your mind. Reflect on how bread nourishes you and as this is how Jesus is describing himself in the narrative, he obviously wants to nourish you in a personal, intimate and spiritual way. Talk to Jesus and listen to him and thank him for the closeness to which he calls you.

End Prayer

Suscipe of St. Ignatius of Loyola

Take, Lord, and receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my entire will,
All I have and call my own.
You have given all to me.
To you, Lord, I return it.
Everything is yours; do with it what you will.
Give me only your love and your grace,
that is enough for me.

Scripture texts: from the Jerusalem Bible 1966 by Dartington Longman & Todd Ltd and Doubleday and Company Ltd