Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

The Evangelist John continues on in his sixth chapter, and we find ourselves in the midst of the “Bread of Life discourse.” Delving deeper and deeper in the mystery of the Eucharist that Christ is revealing before them, our Lord speaks quite plainly. Building upon the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves, he revealed that he is the Bread of Life who has come down from heaven to nourish us in faith, hope, and love, whereby we share more profoundly in the life of Christ. We understand the definition of grace as God’s life within us, when we are in the ‘state of grace’ God is fully alive in us and we are united with him. It is the penalty and effect of mortal sin that ruptures that relationship and removes us from the ‘state of grace’ into the state of sin. We share in the life of Christ when we frequent his sacraments, to distance ourselves from those fonts of grace, namely Confession and the Eucharist, we distance ourselves from Christ. To put it plainly for us all, holiness and effective witness of the Gospel requires an ardent love of and frequent reception of the Eucharist.

This Bread of Life discourse reveals a new dimension of Jesus to this crowd following him. And this message carries an immense weight that almost demands of its recipients a thorough acceptance or rejection. Wholeheartedly, and in its entirety, we either believe these words to be true and trust that Christ is not deceiving us, or we reject this message which is to reject the person of Jesus Christ.

Jesus uses the direct description of, “I AM” repeatedly in this gospel. “I AM the bread of life.” “I AM the bread that came down from heaven.” While this is descriptive, it is also filled with authority. The way in which Christ is speaking of himself is directly meant to invoke the profound title of God that was revealed to Moses in the burning bush in Exodus 3:14. “I AM WHO I AM.” While that may seem like the Almighty is not fully identifying himself (or trying to quote Popeye) it means “I AM existence itself”, “I AM the very act of being.” In the Gospel of John, Christ is employing the same phraseology by using the emphatic Greek “Ego eimi” (ἐγώ εἰμι) “I AM”, as used by God in the burning bush. This is used almost as a name rather than a verb. When Christ declares “I AM” it carries such a heft of importance and distinction that cannot be overlooked.

While identifying himself as “the Bread of Life” Christ points toward the future, “The bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” The use of the future tense by Christ points to the Redemption of the Cross and the institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper. Through Christ’s Paschal Mystery, his Passion, death, and Resurrection, redemption is offered for all of humanity. The holiness affected by the Eucharist brings life to the world. St. Padre Pio summarizes all of this theology and exegesis very effectively, “It would be easier for the world to survive without the sun than to do so without the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.”

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Brendan