It doesnt add up is a frequent cry in our world. Were not talking maths here, but deeper realities. There are things that even if the heart can appreciate, the mind certainly cannot grasp.
So lets not be too hard on the first listeners to Jesus. For them to be told eat my flesh, drink my blood simply did not add up. Hard to swallow literally. Even today the principle behind the treatment of meat in the Jewish tradition is to drain blood, as blood symbolises life. Meat accordingly is caked in salt to drain out the blood.
So, here we gather, a motley crew, an odd mix. Some members of the body of Christ we are part of, know physical hunger, all of us are certainly spiritually hungry. To all is proclaimed unless you eat . you will not have life in you.
Actually chew is a better word than eat. Eat the bread of life, chew it to extract the nourishing value! Absorb His word, his life, feel yourself into it, think about how to make flesh of His words and His life into yours, digest him completely. Dont just gulp and go. Make Christ a part of you, so close a union that people will say you couldnt tell them apart.
Be very careful about the sort of lives you lead.. (second reading)
(Comments to Tom at tomascox@eircom.net )