Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
In a subtle yet powerful manner, this Sunday’s Gospel highlights and affirms the essential nature of Eucharist. It’s not just a sign. It’s not just a symbol. It’s not just a metaphorical representation. If the Eucharist were merely any of these other things, Jesus would never have let all those people walk away from Him. The Gospel tells us that He knew what the people were thinking. If they were mistaken on such a critical point, Jesus would surely have clarified His teaching. Rather than recanting or reframing his statements in any way, however, He actually doubles down and asks the Twelve whether they will abandon Him as well. A critical lesson in all of this is the necessity of taking the Lord at his word in purity and simplicity of heart, just like the little children that we really are.
In the most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist, Jesus offers his entire being to us as pure gift - Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. God held nothing back when He sent his most Beloved Son to suffer and die for us. Likewise, He holds back nothing in the holy sacrifice of the Mass in which He offers us the totality of Himself. Christ remains with us and dwells with us in the Blessed Sacrament because of his burning desire for intimate, personal relationship with each and every single one of us at every moment of every day.