Sunday August 18th: Give thanks for Who has done it!

“The bread that I give is my flesh, for the life of the world.”

John 6: 51-58

In today’s Gospel, the Jews arguing among themselves, ask the question, “How can a man give us his flesh to eat?” Sadly, throughout the Christian world this argument continues, as many do not believe that Jesus gives himself substantially and sacramentally to us – body, blood, soul and divinity under the appearance of bread and wine.
If you are such a person, I encourage you to ask deeper questions than the Jews. Ask instead, “What sort of a man would give us his flesh to eat?” Ask, “Why would he give us his flesh to eat?” – Questions for which we already have answers, as we all believe and proclaim that Jesus is fully man while being fully God.
Jesus also says that he offers us himself as food for our life and for the life of the world. Jesus engages in a long discourse on the Eucharist where he is intentional with his words and the institution he is establishing. Why bother about how God has done it? Let’s just give thanks for Who has done it and for his wonderful reason why.