CORPUS CHRISTI (A)

And the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.

Jn 6:51-58

v. 51. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."

The last section of this discourse is about the sacrament of the Eucharist.

Even if the Johannine style of this passage is generally acknowledged , it is not impossible that these verses may have been added later to the chapter or on the contrary, that John may have added here a very old tradition.

Here “flesh” means every things that belongs to the reality of the human being, with all his possibilities and limitations (1:14; 3:6; 8:15; 1Jn 4:2).

Perhaps John has preserved an independent liturgical tradition that translated literally the Aramaic word “bistra” which Jesus would have used at the Last Supper. John insists on the salvific value of the incarnation.

John has preserved in his own way the traditional formula which expresses the salvific dimension of the death of Jesus. There is a connection between the fact that Jesus is the source of eternal life and the fact of his death. And for this reason he talks about the bread that he shall give (10:11.15; 11:50-52; 15:13; 17:19; 18:14; 1Jn 3:16).

v. 53. Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you."

One finds here that greater portion of the themes developed in the preceding sections and in retrospect, the development of these sections take on a Eucharistic meaning.

v. 54. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.

The literal translation of “eat” is “masticate” and “chew with the teeth”. John uses a vocabulary that is particularly realistic in order to describe participation in the Eucharist. In so doing he puts the readers on guard against the Docetist interpretation of the ministry of Jesus. According to Hebrew custom the food taken at the paschal meal should be chewed carefully.

The Son of man came down from heaven and will go up to heaven and those who believe in him and participate of the sacrament will share in this heavenly life that is in him. The Eucharist is the leaven of the resurrection for those who believe (6:39.40.44; 5:21-29).

v. 55. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.

At the Last Supper the bread and wine, the body and blood of Christ, fulfills eminently the purpose of the bread and drink which is to ensure life.

v. 57. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.

To live is to enter into communion with the Son and therefore, with the Father. This exchange, done in mutual knowledge and love, is assured in a stable and definitive way. The Eucharistic banquet is at the present time is a privileged sign of this communion.