Christ the Cornerstone

Embrace—and share—the joy of God’s grace

“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, says the Lord, and I will raise him up on the last day” (Jn 6:54).

The Gospel reading for the Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time (Jn 6:60-69) tells us a hard truth about Christian discipleship: It requires extraordinary faith and courage. Not everyone has what it takes to accept the challenging message that Jesus delivers in his teaching and by his example.

The Gospels are filled with counter-intuitive wisdom. We are challenged to “turn the other cheek” when attacked, and to “love your enemies.” We are asked to give up our worldly ambitions, to “sell everything,” give to the poor, and follow Jesus on the Way of the Cross. And, perhaps most important (and difficult) of all, we are told that if we eat Christ’s body and drink his blood, we will live forever.

Sunday’s Gospel reading tells us that many who heard this particular saying of Jesus couldn’t accept it. It was evidently too much for them, and as a result, they left him.

St. John tells us that many of Jesus’ disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” As a result, “Many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him” (Jn 6:60, 66).

This is a great paradox. The way of life that Jesus invites us to embrace is difficult. But if we accept his teaching and follow him, the result is unimaginable joy. Death to self (the Way of the Cross) leads to eternal life and a share in the joy of Christ’s resurrection. If we surrender our self-centeredness, we will win the race and experience untold happiness. Dying to self, we will be raised to new life.

Many disciples found Jesus’ claim to be the Bread of Life too difficult to accept. But those who believed in him responded to his question, “Do you also want to leave?” with faith and courage: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God” (Jn 6:68-69).

Jesus is the Holy One of God who gives himself to us—body and blood, soul and divinity—in the Eucharist. He is the “source and summit” of our Christian faith. If we allow this fundamental belief to fade from our consciousness, we weaken our ability to accept God’s grace into our minds, hearts and bodies. We succumb to a form of soul sickness that robs us of the spiritual strength necessary to live fully and to serve as missionary disciples called to proclaim the good news and transform the world.

Just a month ago, our archdiocese hosted an estimated 50,000 people from all over our country and beyond in a joy-filled celebration of the holy Eucharist. The three-year National Eucharistic Revival, which included the 10th National Eucharistic Congress held here in Indianapolis on July 17-21, is a direct response to the reports that belief in the real presence of Jesus Christ has diminished among Catholics in the United States. We bishops of the United States are determined to raise awareness of the absolutely unique nature of the Eucharist as a sacred meal, as a reliving of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, and as the real presence of the Lord in the miraculously transformed substance of ordinary bread and wine.

Anyone who attended the Eucharistic Congress will attest to the moments of pure joy that filled the stadium and convention center, the reverence evident in St. John the Evangelist Church and SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral, and the enthusiasm that overflowed onto the streets of downtown Indianapolis, especially during the eucharistic procession.

The sacred mystery of the Eucharist was celebrated with great joy, and the real presence of the Lord was affirmed and embraced in many powerful ways as the week unfolded. Those who participated joined with our sisters and brothers throughout the United States in thanking God for the awesome gift that is Christ’s body and blood freely given to us each time we receive holy Communion at Mass and when we adore the sacred host truly present to us in the Blessed Sacrament.

We are now in the third year of the National Eucharistic Revival, the year of “being sent on mission.” Let’s pray that something of the enthusiasm and joy of the eucharistic congress will remain with us in the weeks and months ahead. Let’s pray for the faith and courage to accept the truth about Jesus—the source and summit of all life—so that we can share this good news with our brothers and sisters everywhere! †