In the gospel of John, Chapter 6, [New American Bible, revised edition] we read, “Then many of his disciples who were listening said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?””
This is in reference to the passage where, “Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. 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. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.”
Then we hear that, “As a result of this, many [of] his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.”
A person walking away from Jesus is not a new occurrence. As a pastor, I am always concerned when people walk away from the Catholic faith; some to attend other faith communities, some to simply do nothing. I am also puzzled that if they truly believed that Jesus is present in the Most Holy Eucharist, how they could go to another faith community that doesn’t have such, or, how they could just walk away from that great gift. I would pray that anyone with difficulties with me as the pastor, with anyone in the community, or with what our faith teaches, would first come to me and talk so that perhaps the issues they may be experiencing can be resolved.
Where are we in our acceptance of the REAL PRESENCE of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist? Studies have said that up to 50% of Catholics do not believe such. We have no way of knowing if that is the 50% that never go to church or the 50% that do go to church. As we celebrate the great gift of the mass, let us ask God to pour into our hearts a greater appreciation for the Body and Blood of Jesus in the Eucharist. Let us always treat His body and Blood with the respect it deserves.
Countenance of God 