The Eucharist Through the Eyes of John 6

1. The Eucharist Through the Eyes of John 6 Rev. Mr. John Mayo December 7, 2008

2. Review: What is a Sacrament? • A sacrament is a visible sign of invisible grace instituted by Christ in order to give grace.

3. There are 3 Sacraments of Initiation • Baptism • The gateway to the Christian life. • Forgiveness of sins, including original sin. • Indelible Mark • Passport to Eternal Life • Confirmation • One is sealed with the Holy Spirit- a mark upon them. • Unites closer to Christ • Increase in the Spirit • Strength to spread and defend the faith • Eucharist Review: Sacraments of Initiation

4. Eucharist and John 6 • What does John 6 have to do with the Eucharist? • 3 elements • Feeding of the Multitude • Walking on the Sea and Quieting of the Storm • Bread of Life Discourse • It is this chapter, especially in the Bread of Life Discourse, where our Lord promises to institute the Eucharist. • As catechumens- those preparing to partake in the Eucharist at Easter- it is beneficial to look at this passage today as we look at the Eucharist.

5. Layout of John 6 • Feeding of the Multitude • Walking on the Sea and Quieting of the Storm • Bread of Life Discourse • Question One: “Rabbi, when did you come here?” • Question Two: “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” • Question Three: “Then what sign do you do, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you perform?” • “Lord, give us this bread always.” • Question Four: “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” • “I am the bread of life” • Question Five: “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” • Question Six: “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” • Question Seven: Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?”

6. John 6:1-15 After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, which is the Sea of Tiberi-as. 2 And a multitude followed him, because they saw the signs which he did on those who were diseased. 3 Jesus went up on the mountain, and there sat down with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Lifting up his eyes, then, and seeing that a multitude was coming to him, Jesus said to Philip, “How are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?” 6 This he said to test him, for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” 8 One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, 9 “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what are they among so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was much grass in the place; so the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. 12 And when they had eaten their fill, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, that nothing may be lost.” 13 So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten. 14 When the people saw the sign which he had done, they said, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world!” Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

7. John 6:1-15 • Initial scene • Christ had just healed a paralytic and answered questions about this action. • Chapter 5 ends with Him discussing Moses with the Jews • Now, notice Christ’s actions in Ch. 6 • Crosses the Sea of Galilee • Multitude following • Goes up a mountain with apostles • Passover near • Need food • Sound like anyone from the Old Testament??? 45 Do not think that I shall accuse you to the Father; it is Moses who accuses you, on whom you set your hope. 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote of me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

8. MOSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

9. John 6:1-15 • Let’s analyze the rest of this passage with Ps. 23 1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want; 2 he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; 3 he restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies; thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

10. John 6:1-15 • What can be said about this passage? • Christ is prominently featured as the good shepherd, in the tradition of Moses • However, He as the new Moses is above the Moses in the Old Testament. • Compare Ex. 16:4 to Jn. 6:11 • This is what the crowd realized: the Eschatological hope of Israel. • So what they do seems to make sense • However, their faith is not mature- Christ withdraws. • Message for us: In the face of the greatest of needs, there stands Christ.

11. Jn. 6:16-24 16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Caperna-um. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea rose because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and drawing near to the boat. They were frightened, 20 but he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going. John 6:22   On the next day the people who remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. 23 However, boats from Tiberi-as came near the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. 24 So when the people saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Caperna-um, seeking Jesus.

12. Jn. 6:16-24 • Here, St. John gives his definitive argument for Christ’s superiority to Moses • Ex. 14:16 vs. Jn. 6:19 • Moses needed God to move the waters for him; Christ walks upon them by Himself. • Christ is more than a prophet, but God Himself. • Christ is the Good Shepherd • People still motivated by an imperfect faith.

13. Jn. 6:25-27 (Question 1) John 6:25   When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” 26 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. 27 Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal.”

14. Jn. 6:25-27 • Crowd-> Like a teenager • “Oh, hi Mom… I didn’t know you were going to be here.” • Christ-> Like a parent. He knows why they are there. • Meals on wheels. • Begins to teach them the real meaning of the sign. • Moving them from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant

15. Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal.” • What have we seen so far? • Moses-> Man whom God set His seal on. • Passover • Manna in the Desert • Christ-> God Himself. • At the Passover time, He gives bread to the hungry crowd • Prefigures the superabundance of the unique bread of the Eucharist. • This bread is something more • Food for the Soul

16. Jn. 6: 28-29 (Question 2) 28 Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” • Crowd: Ok, so what is the work of God? What is this different kind of labor? • Still an imperfect faith • Christ: No, no, no! You do not need to do any exterior work. The work you must do is to believe in Christ. • Also gives reason why the Church does not allow anyone to receive the Eucharist.

17. Jn 6:30-33 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see, and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world.” • Crowd: Encore, Encore!!! • More imperfect faith • Christ: This is only an image of what God will truly give to the world. • Bread the Father gives to the world- Christ

18. “Lord, give us this bread always.”

19. Jn. 6:35-7 John 6:35   Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me; and him who comes to me I will not cast out.

20. I am the bread of life • Christ is present in many things truly and really • Only in the Eucharist is He substantially present • Substance- What a thing is, thingness • Accident- Size, color, shape, etc. • How does this happen? Transubstantiation • Trans- across • Substance- substances • The substance of the bread is changed into the substance of the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Christ, while the accidents. • Cannot see with our eyes-> Must sees with the eyes of faith

21. Fruit of the Eucharist • When we receive the Eucharist, we are actually communing with Christ • We also bring ourselves into communion with the Body of Christ • A note of caution • We are not worthy • We must discern within ourselves

22. Jn. 6:38-40 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me; 39 and this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up at the last day. 40 For this is the will of my Father, that every one who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

23. 1. Everything is returned to the Father • “Through Him, with Him, in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all Glory is Yours, Almighty Father, forever and ever.” • The believer is to do only what the Father wants and to return to Him all praise that he or she may receive.

24. 2. Instituted by Christ by the Father’s Will

25. 3. “The Last Day” • Those things pertaining to the Last Day, we refer to as Eschatology. • Ecclesia de Eucharistia, # 20: A significant consequence of the eschatological tension inherent in the Eucharist is also the fact that it spurs us on our journey through history and plants a seed of living hope in our daily commitment to the work before us. • In the Eucharist we receive not only food for that day, but we also prepare for our journey to heaven. • Eucharist is a fortaste of heaven.

26. Jn. 6:41-44 (Question 4) John 6:41   The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, “I am the bread which came down from heaven.” 42 They said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” 43 Jesus answered them, “Do not murmur among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. • Crowd: Incredulity! • We are not supposed to know where the Messiah came from, but we know where Jesus came from. • Christ: Not so fast. • Affirms that He is in a filial relationship with the Father. • And I will raise Him-> Who can do this?

27. Jn. 6:45-47 45 It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Every one who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. 46 Not that any one has seen the Father except him who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life. • More proof • They shall be taught by God… who is teaching them now? • Do not be unbelieving, but believe.

28. Jn. 6:48-52 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.” I am- recalls the burning bush. What we are seeing-> Old is revealed in the New Manna in the Desert-> Ate and Died Manna of Christ-> Eat and Live

29. Exodus Event • The Exodus event foreshadows the actions of Christ • Exodus liberates people from slavery in Egypt • Christ liberates people from the slavery of sin • Both times- new freedom • Distinctive of the Passover? Sacrificing of a Lamb • Distinctive of the Last Supper? Sacrifice of Christ Himself

30. Eucharist as Sacrifice • Christ truly sacrificed Himself • In the Liturgy, we remember the events of salvation • But not as history! • The liturgy is a memorial in the sense that they become present in the here and now. • Outgrowth of the Old Testament understanding of the Exodus event. • Key: Christ is NOT sacrificed again! • Rather, it is an appropriation of those graces won by Christ upon that particular moment in time. • In the Old Testament- separate priest and victim • Christ acts as both priest and victim

31. Eucharist as Sacrifice • Notice that in this picture, it is not just the priest or the priest and Christ. • Communion of Saints also present • In the Mass, Heaven literally comes to earth • The Mass can be offered for those who have died.

32. Eucharist as Sacrifice • For us… • Forgives venial sins • Prayers for those who have died • Fulfill Christ’s injunction to “Do this in memory of me.”

33. Jn. 6:52-59 (Question 5) 52   The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you; 54 he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread which came down from heaven, not such as the fathers ate and died; he who eats this bread will live for ever.” 59 This he said in the synagogue, as he taught at Caperna-um.

34. Practical Considerations • 1. Cannibalism • 2. “Eats my flesh and drinks my blood” • Christ is wholly present under both forms of bread and wine • Holy Communion has a fuller form as a sign when it is distributed under both kinds.

35. Eucharist: Source and Summit of the Christian Life

36. Jn. 6:60-64 (Question 6) John 6:60   Many of his disciples, when they heard it, said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” 61 But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples murmured at it, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? 62 Then what if you were to see the Son of man ascending where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But there are some of you that do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who those were that did not believe, and who it was that would betray him. 65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

37. Jn. 6:65-69 John 6:66   After this many of his disciples drew back and no longer went about with him. 67 Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; 69 and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”