By Father Paul Nord
Sunday Scripture
First Reading: Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14b-16a; Responsorial: Psalm 147:12-15, 19-20; Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; Gospel: John 6:51-58
The Book of Deuteronomy presents Moses’ words to the Israelites as they prepared to enter the Promised Land by crossing the Jordan River from west to east, toward Jericho. Before this, the Israelites journeyed for 40 years in the desert after the Lord God freed them from slavery in Egypt.
In fact, Moses had led the Israelites to the edge of the Promised Land 40 years earlier. Moses had sent spies into the land, called “Canaan,” in anticipation of entering the Promised Land by armed force, as described in Numbers 13. But most of the Israelites did not trust that the Lord God would enable them to conquer the land from its strong inhabitants (Numbers 14). Therefore God decreed: “your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years, and shall suffer for your faithlessness” (Numbers 14:33).
Thus the Israelites wandered in the desert for 40 years. Even Moses doubted God in Numbers 20. God commanded Moses to strike the rock to bring forth water for the people to drink, but Moses doubted and struck the rock twice. So God told Moses and Aaron: “Because you did not believe in me … you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.” (Numbers 20:12).
Although God forbade Moses to lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, God allowed Moses to view the Promised Land from Mount Nebo, located east of the Jordan River border (Deuteronomy 34).
In today’s reading, Moses reminds the Israelites of their 40 years in the desert. Moses says that God caused this “to test you by affliction and find out whether or not it was your intention to keep his commandments.” Moses reminds them that God fed them with manna to relieve their hunger (see Exodus 16). In this way, God taught the Israelites “that not by bread alone does one live, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of the LORD.” Jesus famously cites this verse (Deuteronomy 8:3) to reject Satan’s temptations in Matthew 4:4 and Luke 4:4.
Finally, Moses reminds the Israelites: “Do not forget the LORD, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery.” Moses reminds them that God protected them from the “saraph serpents and scorpions” of the desert (see Numbers 21:6-9), when God commanded Moses to make a bronze serpent on a pole, so that the Israelites could look upon it and live. In Deuteronomy, Moses recounts the many events by which the Lord God led the Israelites to the Promised Land. With his speech, Moses prepares the Israelites to finally enter the land.
Next, we have two verses from 1 Corinthians 10, which relate clearly to today’s solemnity Christ’s Most Holy Body and Blood, known as “Corpus Christi.” Paul describes “the cup of blessing” as “a participation in the blood of Christ.” Likewise, “the bread that we break” is “a participation in the body of Christ.” Here “participation” translates the Greek “koinonia” — association, communion, fellowship.
Paul emphasizes that the loaf of bread is “one,” and we are “one body” because we share in “the one loaf.” Christ’s disciples are united by belonging to Christ. By participating in the Eucharist which is his true body and blood, we become one in Christ.
Immediately previous to these verses, Paul warns the Corinthians to renounce worship of idols. Before that, Paul describes how the Israelites were unfaithful to their covenant with God, such that some of them fell into idolatry and immorality (1 Corinthians 10:1-14). By remaining united with Christ through regular participation in the Eucharist, we his disciples receive Christ’s grace. This grace enables us to avoid idolatry and immorality.
Today’s Gospel is from Jesus’ famous “bread of life discourse” from the sixth chapter of John’s Gospel. John 6:4 places this event near the Jewish feast of Passover and close to the Sea of Galilee. First, Jesus performs a miracle, multiplying five loaves and two fish to feed a large crowd of five thousand men (6:1-15). After this, Jesus withdraws alone to the mountain while his disciples get into a boat and begin to cross the Sea of Galilee. But that night Jesus walks across the sea and approaches them in the boat. They are greatly frightened, but he reassures them, saying: “It is I; do not be afraid” (6:20).
These events are described by John 6:1-21. They are also described in Matthew 14:14-34 and Mark 6:32-53 — in the same order and even with the same details as in John’s Gospel. This shows the importance of these events for the early Church.
Jesus had already attracted a large crowd by his healings of many who were sick. Jesus then fed that large crowd by the multiplication of loaves and fishes. When Jesus escaped alone to the mountain, the crowd searched for him. They finally found Jesus on the other side of the Sea of Galilee. They were confused. They knew he had not traveled by boat with his disciples.
This is the context for Jesus’ “bread of life discourse.” He is speaking to the large crowd. He tells them: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven.” Jesus contrasts the bread that he will give with the manna given by God to the Israelites during the time of Moses. Jesus tells the Jewish crowds: “Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died” (6:49). In contrast, whoever eats the bread that Jesus gives “will live forever” (6:51).
Jesus repeatedly emphasizes two points. First, Jesus insists: “the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world” and “my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.” Second, Jesus proclaims “whoever eats this bread will live forever.” These two points are connected: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life.” Jesus came to give life to humanity. He does this by giving us his flesh to eat and his blood to drink. May we receive him.