I want you to picture the faces in the crowd when Jesus spoke those words. Some may have thought, “I believed in this man, but he turned out to be crazy.” Not just a few people walked away from Him. Many did. If Jesus’ goal had been to attract as many followers as possible, why would He have allowed so many people to leave if He was speaking only symbolically?
Throughout history, many documented Eucharistic miracles have reported the Eucharist transforming into flesh and blood. In these cases, the flesh was not merely human tissue but heart muscle that showed signs of severe trauma. Another fascinating detail is that the blood type identified in these miracles is AB. Although rare, AB is the universal recipient blood type. Researchers have also reported finding type AB blood on the Shroud of Turin and on other artifacts believed to bear the blood of Jesus.
When Jesus appeared to two disciples on the road to Emmaus, they did not recognize Him. They finally recognized Him when He blessed and broke the bread. At that moment, Jesus vanished from their sight. Yet He remained present to them in the Eucharistic bread He had just blessed.
Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. When we receive Him into our bodies, we receive the source of life itself. We become living tabernacles, carrying Jesus within us as we go about our daily lives.
Jesus gave His body for us on the cross to free us from sin, and He gives us His body in the Eucharist so that we may be united with Him in the deepest communion possible. The sacrifice of Calvary is not repeated at the altar but made present to us. In a sense, the Mass allows us to look back in time at the sacrifice Christ offered for all. Because Jesus is God, His sacrifice transcends time. Its saving power extends not only to those who witnessed His crucifixion but also to all who lived before Him and all who have lived since.
When I’ve visited Protestant churches, I often felt that something was missing. That missing presence was Jesus Christ in the Eucharist, dwelling in the tabernacle. As my faith has grown, so has my sense of awe and wonder before the Blessed Sacrament. During adoration, I experience Jesus’ love and grace in a profound way.
We should all seek to grow closer to Jesus. In this life, we cannot come closer to Him than when we receive Him in the Eucharist. Open your eyes of faith, and the expression on your face may change from shock and disbelief to awe and wonder.
