20th Sunday Ordinary (B)/Living Bread from Heaven.   Prov 9:1-6/ Ps 34:2-7/ Eph 5:15-20/ John 6:51-58  by Fr. George Vargas       Introduction         When I was a young seminarian, I dreamed of going to Italy not only to see the Pope but to go a small town called Lanciano and see the bread that became “real flesh” and the wine that became “real blood.” History tells us that there was a priest-monk who celebrated a mass who doubted the “real presence” of Christ in the Eucharist and during the consecration the bread and the wine turns into a real flesh and blood of a human person. Many people then, and until now still ask many questions, how it happened. We simply answer … we don’t know. Only faith can explain it.         Background        And since these words of Jesus in today’s Gospel are very strong, they also create a lot of questions in the minds of the Jews:     A) During the time of Jesus, the people might be thinking, how can this man say, “I am the living bread … whoever eats this bread will live forever.” In the days of the Exodus, Moses gave them “the manna” from heaven, they ate it, but afterwards they still died.  In the sixth chapter of John, Jesus was providing them with bread which is forever.  In their minds, they asked: Can Jesus be greater than Moses our greatest prophet?     B) Furthermore, this strong statement also forced the Jews to asked Jesus, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" The very idea repulsed the Israelites. In the Hebrew tradition, the words "to eat flesh" meant "to persecute," "to murder" the other person, "to be hostile" to someone. That's what the prophets Isaiah (9:18- 20; 49:26) and Zechariah (11:9) told them; and, they read the same in the Psalms (27:1-2). And, drinking blood? To the Hebrew people, it was a shocking notion, forbidden by the Law of Moses (Genesis 9:4; Leviticus 3:17).     C) Many of the followers of Jesus who were deeply shocked said, “This is intolerable language. How could anyone accept it?” If that’s how his followers reacted then just imagine what the rest of the population thought! It is no surprise that because of this outrageous language, with its emphasis on eating flesh and blood, the first Christians were frequently accused of engaging in cannibalistic rites!          But Jesus insisted, "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you" (John 6:53). Christ openly revealed this truth, even they can not fully understand it then, but nonetheless they accepted it with faith.             The Mystery           In our catholic faith today, we can not also explain to the full - the mystery of the Eucharist; in all its aspects. We also ask a lot of questions. But ironically, the more we asked questions the more it becomes too mysterious for us:             1. Why only priests can do that? Why he alone can consecrate bread and wine? Priests are as sinners like any body else, then what makes the difference? I do not know also. What I believe is the fact that when my bishop ordained me, I became “alter Christus” (another Christ). And whenever I administer the sacraments, it is not I who do it, but it is Christ, acting in me who does everything. And for Christ, everything is possible.     2. We know that the change happens in such a way that the substance of bread and wine becomes the real Body and Blood of Christ, which in theology we call the Transubstantiation. Usually, when the substance is changed its external appearance (the accidents) is change with it also. (Ex when a wood is burned and becomes ash, it becomes black and reduced to a size of dusts too.).  But why is it that all outward appearances of bread and wine remain the same: the taste, the texture, the chemical make-up, while its substance is changed into Christ. How this Metaphysical reality happens during the prayer of consecration? We simply do not know. It is a miracle beyond human imagination. We simply believe.     3. And when we reverently receive the body and blood of Christ in Holy Communion we are transported to the room of the Last Supper, we are connected to the sacrifice on the Cross of Calvary. But how can you “make present” in the Eucharistic celebration the one sacrifice of Christ on the cross that happened two thousand years ago and benefit in its same saving grace here and now? How can it transcend beyond time and physical matter? We simply we do not know. But one thing I am sure of, it is a miracle of love and love transcends beyond time.     The Eucharist is a deep mystery. It is a profound truth known only to us because it has been revealed by God. Believing in the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist is every Catholic’s best test of faith.           Reflections     1.  If this is indeed a great miracle freely given by God as a gift, we have to ask ourselves: Do we deserve to receive this great  miracle of love even though we do not go confession for a long period of time?     2. Now that many people live in fear for terrorists. Many children still believe that as long as their dad and their mom are around, they will never be afraid.             God is "with us", Emmanuel, in Christ Jesus our Lord who promises, "I will be with you always, even until the end of  the world". He keeps this promise in the Eucharist. As long as the Eucharist is present in our midst, as children of God, we have to fear no one.             Furthermore, Jesus is the Bread of Life he alone can satisfy the deepest needs of humankind. And the loneliest place is place without the Eucharist - the place without God     3.  For this is Body-broken and Blood-poured-out for others. Accordingly, whenever we allow ourselves to be broken, I order to sacrifice for the people we love, slowly become like the Eucharist. And when we share to others our own brokenness, in other to love to the full, we do not only become it;       ultimately… we are it.