Eating His Flesh Drinking His Blood: Last Sunday's Sermon

The Gospel

John 6:56-69

Jesus said, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.

When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But among you there are some who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.”

Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

The Sermon

It sounds awful and I am not surprised that some of Jesus followers drifted away when they took this statement from Jesus literally. We know Jesus was referring to his spiritual self. He said, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them.” The Today's English Version of the Bible gives this translation, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood live in me and I in them.” Jesus wants us to become a part of him and to be immersed in his teaching, in his ministry and when we do so he becomes a part of us.

I had a discussion the other day with a Roman Catholic friend about consuming Jesus' flesh and blood. I told her we believe that Christ is present in the blessed wine and bread. She told me of their belief in transubstantiation which is the belief that the host literally turns into flesh of Christ and the wine turns into his blood. I told her that there have been scientific studies that indicated this kind of transformation does not actually take place.

Each of you may have your own interpretation of what takes place at the Eucharist which by the way is a word of Greek origin meaning 'giving thanks'. Some of you may actually believe in transubstantiation and I respect that. Some of you may believe the bread and wine are simply something we do in memory of Jesus and I respect that as well. What is most important to me is that we approach the Eucharist, this gift, with reverence.

Robin Williams, once gave ten reasons he was an Episcopalian and one of those reasons was that no matter what you believe you can always find one Episcopalian who agrees with you.

Jesus has truly given us a precious gift of himself through his teaching and his sacrifice. The Holy Spirit has entered each of us and enriched us. We are the body of Christ. We are a community of Christians. We, all of you and me are one church family. Like any family, we may see some things through a different lens but when it comes to it, we are one in the spirit. We are one in the Lord. 

Blessings,

Fr. Fred