Joke: A pastor was riding his horse, and he stopped to chat with a member of his parish. “That’s a handsome-looking animal you have there,” said the parishioner. “But why is it that your horse is so big and strong and you are so thin?” “Perhaps,” replied the pastor, “it is because I feed the horse and the congregation feeds me.”

It is very striking when Jesus said to the crowds, reported in today’s Gospel, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” To eat the flesh and drink the blood of the son of man? How is it possible? At his last supper with his disciples, we learn from reading the Scriptures, “Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and giving it to his disciples said, “Take and eat; this is my body. Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins.” These words and actions repeat at every Mass, and we do it in remembrance of him.

At every Mass, after laying his hands to consecrate the bread and wine, the priest acted in the person of Christ and said his words, “He himself took bread, and, giving you thanks, he said the blessing, broke the bread and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body, which will be given up for you.’ In the same manner with the cup, “He took the chalice, and, giving you thanks, he said the blessing, and gave the chalice to his disciples, saying, ‘Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me.’” Each time we come together to participate in the Mass is each time we are reminded that we celebrate in memory of the Lord Jesus because of the love that he gave us his body and blood for the life within us.

Jesus said very clearly that when we eat his flesh and drink his blood, we will have life within. What does it mean if it’s not his flesh and his blood that nurture our soul within us? When we eat his flesh and drink his blood in the Eucharist, we remain in him and he is in us. This is what Jesus promised those who eat his flesh and drink his blood. Do u believe it? How is it possible?

In today’s second reading, taken from the letter of Saint Paul to the Ephesian Community, Saint Paul reminds them and us saying, “Watch carefully how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, making the most of the opportunity because the days are evil.” Why did Saint Paul say the days are evil? Didn’t God create everything good that we learn in the first book of the Bible, the book of Genesis? The days are evil might be preferred to the day of judgment which is coming soon. It is either private or universal. It is private because each one of us, no matter who we are and what we are, we still have to depart from this earthly life. This is our private judgment. The universal judgment is at the end of the world. God will come to judge everyone according to his deeds. So, how do we live not as foolish but as wise? Saint Paul teaches, “Do not continue in ignorance but try to understand what is the will of the Lord. And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.” What is the will of the Lord? It is not ours. Then, how do we understand the will of God? Learn to spend time to give thanks to God in prayers and reflections, not ignore and use other means such as wine and debauchery. In all we do, we do it in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. When we do what Saint Paul taught, we live as wise not as foolish.

When we eat his flesh and drink his blood, we welcome the whole person of Christ into our lives, the Second Person in the Most Holy Trinity. When we receive Communion, it is not that we receive a piece of bread and drink a sip of wine, but it is a meeting with the Second Person in the Most Holy Trinity, the Lord Jesus Christ himself.

Finally, to eat his flesh and drink his blood so we can remain in him and he is in us, how can this be? “Only love,” Saint Basil once stated. Saint Basil defines a kiss is to breathe the soul into the other. Talking about love is talking about faith. Faith is not a matter, but what is deep within us. Love has to take root in faith to remain in Christ. Only Love that Christ died for us, and only love, we are invited to come to eat his flesh and drink his blood for eternal life. The decision is yours.