Sacred Mystery

John 6:53 “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."


Just imagine how shocked the original listeners must have felt when Jesus spoke these words. We have the benefit of the resurrection between his words and our understanding of these words and yet they create difficulties for many modern people as well. Jesus later while celebrating the passover with his disciples gave an example of how this was to be lived out. It became clear the he was not talking about his physical flesh, but rather a spiritual meal that would give us spiritual life. Jesus was establishing a new blood covenant relationship with us in the sacrament of his body and blood found for us in the Eucharist. We find God's presence in this mystery. 


I have the great blessing of participating in this mystery. So often I am in awe in the moments I am allowed to stand at the altar and ask God to bless bread and wine to be the very presence of Christ. Even before I was ordained the sacrament had a powerful effect on my life and faith. I found this mystery even more compelling when I came to understand the covenant language Jesus used in his teaching and the institution of this sacred meal. 


Grace everywhere all the time, but particular and powerfully available in the mystery of the sacraments.