Monday of the Third Week of Easter
(John 6:1-15)
Once a woman came up to the altar to receive Holy Communion. She took the Eucharistic host and looked around for the cup. Not seeing it, she blurted, “You mean I’m not getting any wine?” She was finally offered the Precious Blood, but we may question whether she worthily received it. After all, she seemed to consider it as one might a free sample of cheese at the supermarket. In the gospel today Jesus notes that the crowd who follow him to Capernaum similarly have little appreciation for the Bread of Life that he provided.
The crowd saw the sign that Jesus just worked. He fed five thousand with just a five loaves and two fish on the other side of the sea. Sensitive people would have stopped to ponder what was at hand. They would have recognized that at least a prophet of God akin to Moses has visited them. And they would have adjusted their lives to be in accord with what the prophet was telling them. But the crowd here hardly gives what Jesus says a second thought. They search him out in order to receive more bread.
We must do better. The Church asks us to make a reverential sign – a simple bow is sufficient – before receiving Holy Communion. It is a way to recognize that what we are about to take is not bread and wine but the Lord himself. He will mold us from within to demonstrate his love for the world. He will also prime us for eternal life. The physical value of Holy Communion is negligible -- not worth climbing out of the pew. The spiritual value is infinite – worth climbing a mountain.
