"Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."

"Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."

This is the fifth week we are listening from the Gospel of John chapter 6, the Bread of Life discourse. It was a great   opportunity for me to share some of the awesome moments from the National Eucharistic Congress. There is much more to say.

This week I would like to share one of my personal experiences. From younger days onward Eucharist is the center of my life. But each stage I grew with deeper appreciation for Eucharist. In 2019, I was visiting my family in India. During my visit I had an opportunity to visit my mom’s home parish, Christ the King Church, where a Eucharistic miracle took place on November 15, 2013. During the Mass, after the consecration, Jesus' face appeared on the Holy Host, the Body of Christ. The Holy Host was sent to Rome for the scientific evaluation. In 2018, based on the guideline of the Holy See, Archbishop of Thalassery declared that the Eucharist is a Relic of Divinity and placed it on the side Altar for prayers and reverence. During my visit I spent some time in prayer with my dad and brother. I had an inspiration to have a Eucharistic procession. Then I brought it up at one of the Parish Council meetings at St. Anthony and all of them were in support of the idea and we had a Eucharistic procession on the Feast of Corpus Christi 2019. In 2020, USCCB started to talk about the need of Eucharistic Revival. In 2021, they started planning and in 2022 began the Eucharistic Revival Years and the Bishop asked each cluster to have a Eucharistic procession. When the USCCB announced about the 10th Eucharistic  Congress, I desperately wanted to go, but I know that only selected people will be going from the Diocese. When I    received the list of priests going for the Eucharist Congress, I couldn’t believe that I was one of them.

As I mentioned on the first Sunday, I enjoyed every moment of the Eucharistic Congress. But the highlight of the    Congress for me was the celebration of the Eucharist and Adoration. It was an awesome moment to be with 60,000 fire filled people to celebrate faith. I had an opportunity to participate in one of eastern rights, Syro-Malabar Mass, in which I grew up. It added flavor to my Eucharistic Congress experience. I am sure I will cherish this experience my whole life.

We were reading from the Gospel of John chapter 6, the Bread of Life discourse. After listening to Jesus many of his  disciples complained, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” If we want to understand the background of this question, we need to read the previous passage. Jesus claims to be “the bread that comes down from heaven” (John 6:50); “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day”(John 6:54); “What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?” (62) and these claims provoked them. Jews were waiting for the coming of the Messiah, but when he came they were not ready to embrace him. I think they accepted his humanity, but they failed to accept his divinity. Jesus encouraged everyone to take a leap of faith and at the same time he did not try to rephrase his words in order to clear up the misunderstanding. Jesus meant that his Body and Blood are real food and drink. At the Last Supper, Jesus took the bread, gave thanks, blessed and gave to his disciples and said, “This is my Body” likewise he took the cup, gave thanks, blessed and gave it to them and said, “This my Blood.” And said to them, “Do this in remembrance of me” Luke 22:19.

Jesus’ teaching was hard for many disciples, and they returned to their former way of life. This point Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also want to leave?” Then we hear the profound words from Peter, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God” (68&69). Here we see the connection between the first reading and Gospel. In the first reading Joshua, the leader who succeeded Moses, gathered all the tribes of Israelite in Shechem, where God first appeared to Abraham (Genesis 12:6-7). Joshua told them he was going to serve the Lord, and called Israel to choose which god they will serve. We heard their answer with similar words from Peter, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD for the service of other gods. For it was the LORD, our God, who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, out of a state of slavery. He     performed those great miracles before our very eyes and protected us along our entire journey and among the peoples through whom we passed. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God" Joshua 24:17&18).

Jesus shares with us his very self in the Eucharist. Even today this great mystery is a puzzle for many. There were different reactions. What is our reaction? Like the twelve, we may not leave him either. It is good to recall our high moment of Eucharistic experience and low moment. They think about what can I do to make our Eucharistic celebration a profound experience.

Also I would like to invite you reflect on living the Eucharistic Mission – sharing with others. Last couple of weeks I mentioned one of the ways is “Walk With One.” It is an invitation to think about one person/family whom each of us would like to have to celebrate Eucharist with us. Then pray for that individual or family for a while. Eventually befriend them. Once friendship grows and shares faith with them and invites them to celebrate faith with us. When I say invite them, I assume you know when you invite a non catholic, they need to go RCIA to prepare to receive the Sacraments.