Eucharistic Revival

02-12-2023Weekly ReflectionFr. Mike Straley

In conjunction with the Eucharistic Revival mission to inspire, educate and unite, there will be monthly quotations from Bishop Emeritus Thomas J. Olmsted’s Apostolic Exhortation, Veneremur Cernui– Down in Adoration Falling. The Bishop wrote this letter calling upon priests and laity to embrace a deeper love for and understanding of the Eucharist as the Source and Summit of the Catholic Faith.

11.“The perennial biblical verse where the Christian conflict begins and ends is the Bread of Life discourse: ‘Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink’ (Jn 6:53-55).”

12. “ Jesus meant exactly what He said—He is truly present in the Eucharist. Some say that these words are figurative or that Jesus was only speaking symbolically when He said, ‘Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life.’ However, if Jesus had meant it as a symbol, He would not have repeated this message seven times in this dialogue: ‘My flesh is true food, my blood is true drink.’ The Jews understood what He really meant, and they responded with incredulity, ‘How can this man give us His flesh to eat?’. Despite the uproar caused by His teaching, Jesus did not soften His claim…”