John 6:51-58
"Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life..." John 6:54
One of the criticisms of early Christians was that they were cannibals. Triggered by the centrality of the Eucharist in Christian worship this critique had its source in terminology reflective of this passage and the idea of eating flesh and drinking blood.
John's gospel is the most symbolic and metaphorical of the four, yet the sacramental language of breaking of bread and drinking from the cup is missing from his account of the last supper. This passage, however, reflects clearly the Eucharistic language and practice that seems to have become part of the life of the fledgling church.
As the last of the gospels to be written perhaps the circulation of the other gospels had already brought enough focus on the celebration of the Passover.
At our remove from these events a number of traditions and beliefs have developed around the Eucharist. These range from the Catholic understanding of that the elements (the bread and the wine) become the body and blood of Christ to those who see the Eucharist as symbolic only, and not essential to Christian life and experience. For some participation in the Eucharist is essential for salvation and the faith life. For others it is optional, and even detrimental to true faith.
Between the extremes is a range of views about what the bread and wine is, and how followers of Christ are able to remember all that has been accomplished for them by Jesus.
Whatever our views the challenge for believers is to keep Christ central to our thinking and our doing every day. Jesus is 'the bread of life' and we do well to partake daily of all that Jesus offers.
Jesus is the bread of life - he must be taken into the very centre of our being. Jesus is the living water - he will nourish us.
Other Readings:
1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14
Eph 5:15-20
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