St. John on the Eucharist

The Bible we use

Last night, before my children dove into their respective beds and attempted to stay there, I read aloud St. John's short account of Jesus walking on the water. My two oldest children, now fully alive with inquisitiveness, could not help but wonder both how and why Jesus did it.

Because you do know, don't you, that walking on water is a real miracle?

While my children were taken in by this small but grandiose detail, I was struck by the context of the story. If we truly believe that St. John had a purpose, and that the purpose was divinely inspired, then we can see that there is a lot more going on than just Jesus deciding to take a mid-night, stormy stroll across Lake Kinneret. Instead, God wants us to notice something. He wants to give our carnal eyes the horizon of the Spirit. Namely, He wants us to see what He is capable of doing, so we will believe what He says He will do.

You see, the story just before the mid-night stroll across the top of the lake would seem out-of-place if there were nothing right after that starry night lake walk. However, there is. Thus, the almost incredulous story of Jesus feeding the five thousand with a few loaves and fish makes perfect sense. We would not expect it, but given its context we can understand it.

The Biblical Context

As we enter John 6, let us remember from where we have come. In the beginning of John 5, Jesus re-writes the rules of the Sabbath to include miracle working (vv.1-17). Then, we find out that He is claiming to be God, and that He has authority (vv.18-29). Jesus ends this chapter with a sharp rebuke against those who do not listen to Him. Here's the re-cap: He's God, He has authority, you should listen to Him. Got it? So, as we turn the page to chapter six, we can hardly imagine what will come next, but what comes next does not disappoint.

"Do what?
Are you serious, Jesus?"

Jesus performs what would be by any account two very gratuitous, almost superfluous, miracles: the feeding of the five thousand and walking on water. For my purposes, I will simply ask the question: did anyone see how Jesus multiplied the loaves and the fishes? Notice in the story that no one says, "Look! My loaf is growing," or, "Wow, that fish just multiplied!" No, instead the people just know that it has happened. I'm not saying there is not any physical evidence, but the point is that the people's reaction is not to emphasize it as if they could understand the "how" of the miracle. 

Fresh off-of putting Walmart out of business, next Jesus decides to turn to Evinrude -- He's going to walk on water. Again my question: did anyone see how Jesus walked on the water? Notice in the story that no one says, "Look! I can see that Jesus's feet are just slightly over the water, he is clearly hovering." There was no physical explanation, although there was a tangible miracle. Also, it was dark, and no doubt the disciples' fear was justified. Yet there only response upon hearing that it was Jesus and not a ghost?

They were glad. That's it.

Joy.

The Bread of Life

The flesh will not help
you understand this

And then we get to The Bread of Life discourse -- equally gratuitous and seemingly superfluous. The Protestant objector, more than once, will be quick to point to verse sixty-three:

"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all."

And I agree but for just the opposite reasons. The objector to the Catholic Eucharistic doctrine, citing this passage of Scripture, fails to appreciate what Jesus is communicating. He is not saying that His flesh and blood are not true drink. He just said that (v.55)! He is saying that by the flesh, you will not understand this teaching. A carnal mind will be of no help at all in understanding the Eucharist. It is the Spirit who gives life.

And this makes perfect sense given the context. In the mind of God, before all time, it was well pleasing to have the story of His Son feeding the five thousand and walking on water just before His Son's words to "eat his flesh and drink his blood". Who can believe that Jesus can do the other two miracles? Really, how could He? Certainly, the flesh is no help at all! While one can put the fish and bread to his lips, and see that Jesus walked upon the water, I say (and someone else does too) it is more blessed for those that believe who do not see (hint: Eucharist)! Moreover, neither do we, as Catholics, know how the bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is a mystery. Yet, like the disciples, we do not see that it is Jesus, we hear that it is Jesus. And upon hearing, what is our response?

Joy.

We have seen the loaves and fish. We have seen Him walk on water. Why should we doubt Him now? And so I ask you, who would you expect to follow our Lord onto the water? None other than the one, who upon hearing the "hard saying" of our Lord, said:

"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”

And if He's the Holy One of God, then I say the Eucharist just makes perfect sense.