Cannibalism?
Jesus said:
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.” Jn 6:51-58
20th SUNDAY Ordinary Time Cycle B
The mother pelican if she cannot find food for her birdlings will peck itself at her breast and feed them her flesh. Because of this, the pelican has always been a symbol of the Eucharist where Christ says He feeds us His own body.
In 1972 the plane carrying the soccer team from Uruguay crashed on the Andes while crossing to Chile. Of the 45 passengers only 16 survived in the sub-zero temperature for 72 days by eating the dried meat of their dead companions. The cannibalism had been quite repulsive to these athletes who were all Catholics.
These two examples vividly illustrate to us what Jesus seriously means when He says His flesh is real food. His very self which we consume in the Holy Eucharist makes us survive like those soccer players the most grueling crisis not only in body but even in spirit.
At the Last Supper and in every holy mass Christ’s bloody sacrifice on Calvary is repeated albeit in an unbloody manner. Nevertheless, the effect is exactly the same in both. When we consume the sacred species of bread or wine, Christ once more effects in us His passion, death and also His resurrection.
The Wisdom writer tells us “Let whoever is simple turn in here; To the one who lacks understanding, she says, Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed! Forsake foolishness that you may live; advance in the way of understanding.” Prv 9:1-6
Thus we are told that though it may sound foolish believe nonetheless. St. Paul urges the Ephesians, “Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord.” Eph 5:15-20
To the Psalm we once more responded,”Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.” In the Eucharist we shall bathe in God’s immense love shown in His giving Himself up for us.
Let me end with another example of a third person strengthened by the Holy Eucharist in her severest trial. Alesandrina da Costa is on the way to becoming a saint. Early in her life there was an attempt by three men to molest her. To save herself she jumped from the second floor of the house. She survived the attack and the fall but ended up for all life a paraplegic. Most of the time bedridden she heard about Don Bosco through her spiritual director and soon she enrolled as a Salesian Cooperator. Even from bed her life was most exemplary. As her body continuously deteriorated in the last thirteen years of her mystical life, she nourished herself with nothing but the Holy Eucharist.
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