John 6:50-58 (NRSV)
Read John 6:50-58 on biblegateway.com
Verse 50This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. Verse 51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." Verse 52The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" Verse 53So Jesus said to them, "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. Verse 54Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; Verse 55for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Verse 56Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Verse 57Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. Verse 58This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever."
Devotion
My daughter is three. Recently she asked me, "Mom, is Jesus real or pretend?" I said, "Jesus is real, we just can't see him all the time." She responded with the classic, "Why?" So I said, "Well, he doesn't walk around like we do, but he does live in our hearts." My daughter was quiet for a while. Then she put her hands on her chest. When I asked her what she was doing she replied, "I am trying to feel Jesus in my heart but I can't, so I think he must be in my tummy."
In light of today's gospel what she said makes sense. Jesus gives himself to us fully in communion. When we receive the bread and wine, we swallow a tangible promise—that we abide with Jesus and that he abides within us. That promise enters our bodies and literally becomes a part of us.
Prayer
God of wonders, you have promised to be with us in all things. Help us to trust that we carry that promise within us—in our hearts, hands, feet, eyes, ears and even in our tummies. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.