John 6:52-59 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood shall live

As a child my siblings and I were always curious about vampire and zombie movies.  There was always something so very wrong with sub human creatures drinking human blood, or eating their brains that made us laugh.  We knew it was fiction.  As an adult I was briefly amused and annoyed when a friend learned that I was a Catholic and asked how could I be?--I was such a nice person, but did how could I partake in human sacrifice every Sunday and eat them?  It was a clear sign that our Church needs to do more in educating our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who belong to other churches. 

In today's Gospel the Jews are taken aback asking themselves, "How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?"  It is as shocking to them as it was to my friend.  What does Jesus mean?

Think back to the wedding feast at Cana.  That is a precursor to the Heavenly banquet.  We are to be nourished and sustained in our faith.  All we need to do is believe.  The Son came down from Heaven like the manna in the desert.  The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us, " From the beginning Jesus associated his disciples  with his own life, revealed in the mystery of the kingdom to them, and gave them a share in his mission, joy, and sufferings." (CCC 787)  In joining with him, we come into communion with him, an ecclesiological communion which mimics that of the Father and Holy Spirit to the Son.  We share in his resurrection.  His flesh is our flesh, his blood our blood.  We, the Church,  are his body and he is our head.  At the Last Supper he gave us himself through the grace of transubstantiation whereby the substance of the bread was changed to Him while the outer veil remained like bread, and the same with the wine, that substance became him, for us to consume, to be nourished, not just physically, but spiritually with the grace that is God, inebriated with his Divine love and mercy. 

Matthew 9:14-15

for today's reading (http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/021216.cfm)

Today Jesus is asked why he and his disciples do not fast.  He answers, "Can the wedding guests mourn when the bridegroom is with them?" 

The contrast is striking: Mourning and joyful.  He reminds us that he is the groom.  We are his love.  How can we be sad?  This Lent are we mindful of his immense love?  What sacrifice can we give him that will bring us closer to him?  Is it a sacrifice of prayer?  A few brief moments before the tabernacles between work and lunch?  How do we make him our first priority?  The answer is different for everyone.  Let the Spirit lead you. 

John 2:1-11 Called to the Wedding Feast

In today's reading we hear about the Wedding at Cana.  Many people are there including Mary, the disciples and Jesus.  It is a real event that took place, but it is also a metaphor for the Kingdom of God, the relationship between Christ and the church as spouses, and the invitation for all to come to the Heavenly Banquet.  In the reading, can you see how Jesus is the bridegroom?

Ask yourself, "Have I been to a wedding?"  What made it so special compared to an ordinary meal?  Why are weddings so important?  In our modern culture we are starting to see few weddings.  To those who are married and are joined together by God, it is because it is a union between two people a bride and a bridegroom, that is a reflection of Jesus Christ's relationship with the church.  This is why to many Christians the religious Sacrament of Holy Matrimony is so important. 

Do you recall the part about the wine?  Jesus changed the water into wine, it is a symbol to be reflected at his passion:  the image of the blood and water which gushed forth from the heart of Jesus as a font of mercy for us.  It is the image of the last supper when Jesus passes around the wine and tells his disciples, "Take and drink.  This is my blood which has been poured out for you for the forgiveness of sins."  O Lord, how truly grateful we are to you to receive this invitation to the Heavenly Banquet.