Gospel readings from Chapter 6 of John
For the next five weekends, (or to put it another way, for the rest of the school holidays) the Gospel reading comes from Chapter 6 of John. It is close to the Jewish Feast of Passover as Jesus feeds a multitude of people, a miracle that recalls God feeding Israel with manna in the wilderness. Jesus then walks on the stormy seas and declares ‘I am’ though this scene is omitted. Instead next weekend we are introduced to a discourse by Jesus as himself being the bread of life. He teaches what the true bread provided by God is and what it means to feed on this bread. By the fifth weekend we find that such radical teaching has turned some disciples away while others reaffirm their faith in him.
John Ch6 is a theologically complex chapter referencing Jewish liturgical traditions and many biblical themes: the tree of life in Eden, the manna in the wilderness, Wisdoms invitation to share in her food. These Old Testament realities help us to understand Jesus and his gift of his body and blood on the cross and in the Eucharist. His self-giving in his passion is made present on the altar as the priest calls on the Holy Spirit to enable the bread and wine presented to become the body and blood of Christ. We witness Christ sacrificing himself to the Father for our sake, in our presence. Or is this too outrageous? Will you and I walk away like some of the disciples at the end of John Chapter 6 or are we affirmed in faith that Christ is present in the Eucharist?