Homily for Friday of the 3rd Week of Easter
Theme: Power of the Eucharist
By: Fr. Benny Tuazon
(Jn. 6:52-59) Friday of the Third Week of Easter
In today’s Gospel Jesus tells the crowd the true food and true drink of life. It was a puzzle to the Jews. They thought Jesus was crazy for making them like cannibals. They were not aware of the Eucharist that He will later institute to facilitate eating Him in the form of bread and wine. Still, the message is clear. It is Jesus who will give them the fullness of life. In accepting Him, they also accept the One who sent Him.
This was a long discourse which kept repeating the message of the Jesus as the Bread of Life. It responds to the longings of the people. They were not just prepared for this kind of idea. The challenge was to accept everything in faith.
Mere reception of the Eucharist does not guarantee fulfillment in the same way that mere eating makes one satisfied. The reception or taking of communion must come from a friendship with the Lord and looks forward to remaining with and in Him. It is not something magical that when it is received, presto!, one becomes holy and invincible against temptations and sins. There is a whole life before and after communion. Thus, remaining in and with the Lord is vital.
That was the same call and responsibility when we were baptized. Baptism freed us from the bondage of original sin. Though the sacrament had given us sanctifying graces to equip us against threats to our holiness, nevertheless, we still have to decide to become holy and remain with the Lord. Holiness is both a grace and a task. We receive it but we have to take care that we live up to it. In the same way, Baptism and the Eucharist make us in communion with God. But we have to see to it that we remain with the Lord. In other words, we must continue to live our holiness.
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