This Saying Is Hard!

Some of the best advice I ever received came from my father.

When I just finished high school, I landed a job that I really enjoyed. I was working in a nursing facility taking care of elderly and infirmed people. For me, it was inspiring work—but work that was very demanding and even exhausting. A situation arose that put me in a position that required that I care for many more people than most of my colleagues. Strictly speaking, it was unjust. It was not fair. Coming home frustrated one afternoon, I explained the situation to my father expecting to gain a sympathetic ear. His advice was this, “Who in this house ever told you that life was easy?”
           
It was a hard saying for me to hear. However, it was the truth. Not only did no one in our house ever say that life was easy, but everyone lived life to the fullest because God was at the center of everything. That meant that difficult situations were possible to navigate because we put things in God’s hands. Believing this, we found joy and purpose in our life.

That is the message that Jesus gives us in the sixth chapter of St. John’s Gospel. We hear that many of Jesus’ disciples declare, “This saying is hard; who can accept it? (Jn 6:60)” The saying they are referring to immediately preceded this protest when Jesus teaches, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven (Jn 6:51) … he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him.” (Jn 6:56)

Many of Our Lord’s disciples simply cannot hear this truth and begin to murmur among themselves. Jesus knows their hearts and says to them, “Do you take offense at this? Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 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. But there are some of you who do not believe.” (Jn 6: 61-64)
           
Our Lord tells His disciples that there is a deeper truth, a divine mystery that He is giving to them. It defies their narrow understanding and their limited experience. It is  the mystery of a loving Presence that is right before them. When Jesus poses the question, “Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?” He is trying to open their eyes to the reality that He is above all they can imagine.  Out of pure love, He will really hand Himself over to them as the Living Bread come down from heaven in the Holy Eucharist.  If only they could see who He truly is and what a tremendous gift He is giving them, they would live in amazing joy!
           
Saddened, Jesus knows that some would not believe and some would even betray Him.  We who believe that the Holy Eucharist is Jesus Christ Himself, Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity, recognize that this exchange between Our Lord and His “disciples” continues even today in the Church. We are living this conversation between Jesus and His disciples in a pointed way when surveys reveal that some two thirds of Catholics do not believe that He is truly and substantially present in the Holy Eucharist. As a result, so many Catholics do not live their lives as if His Eucharistic Presence is the “source and summit” of their lives as the Second Vatican Council so beautifully taught. (Lumen Gentium, #11)  Some physically walk away.  Others walk away from this truth while still remaining bodily.
           
Why have so many Catholics walked away?  For many reasons.  Perhaps they found this saying, this truth taught by the Lord about Himself, was not something they could hear and accept.  Maybe the ideologies of the world influenced them. It is possible that materialism has stolen their ability to believe.  Perhaps they have not been formed rightly with clarity and love. Maybe they were not taught to live the faith at home. No matter what has happened, the reality is that they walked away.
           
Jesus then asks the twelve Apostles, “Will you walk away?” (Jn 6:67).  Simon Peter responds, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal like; and we have believed and come to know that you are the Holy One of God” (Jn 6:68-69).
           
Hope enters in. Jesus does not change His words, His teaching about the gift of Himself in the Bread come down from heaven. He does not run after those walking away and change His message.  He does not say, “Well, I am the Living Bread in a symbolic or metaphorical sense.” Rather, He turns to His chosen twelve and puts the question to them if they believe in Him or if they will leave Him.
           
I believe that conversation with the Lord continues today with us who do believe. In the reality of fewer and fewer people coming to Mass and believing in His Eucharistic Presence, Jesus asks us, you and me, “Will you also leave?” We, like Peter, must assure Him that we believe that only He has the truth, the words of eternal life. We have no one else to whom we can go. No political ideology, no social theory, no other person can give us what He can—Himself, His Body and His Blood, true meaning and purpose in life, and  the way to the Kingdom.  He knows that in our weakness we may betray Him by sin or error. Still, He continues to count on us, to give us His truth through His Body the Church. He is begging us to be faithful to Him.
           
What do we do to help those Catholics who do not come to Mass?  It is an important challenge to deal with.  The Church is grappling with it as we are talking about the need for a Eucharistic Revival. Here is some advice that I believe would come from the Heart of the Savior.  “Do not dismiss them.  Do not chastise them.  Do not give up on them.  Never lose hope.  Rather, witness to them that you really do believe in the truth that I gave you when I said, ‘This is My Body’ and ‘This is the chalice of My Blood.’   Invite them back with deep conviction and unfailing love.  Strive to grow in holiness so that they may see that you do believe in My Eucharistic Presence and that I am the source and summit of life.”  If we do that, Our Lord will do the rest.  There will be a needed Eucharistic Revival.  We will be united with Him and one another in His Sacrifice and His Paschal Banquet.
           
His advice is the best we can receive. Life will not be easy, even in the Church. Things at times may seem dark. We must always look to Him for light and hope. We must see Him present in our midst, on our altars, in our tabernacles, as the Living Bread come down from heaven.
           
My father gave me good advice—life will not be easy, but it is worth living.  Jesus gives us the best advice—we must live our life for Him above all and see with the eyes of faith that He is truly present with us, most especially in the Holy Eucharist.
           
So let’s take the Lord’s advice and pass it on to everyone we meet!

Most Reverend William J. Waltersheid
Auxiliary Bishop of Pittsburgh