Our reading from the 6th chapter of St. John ends this Friday this way: “ Jesus said these things while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.”  It was a new teaching about Bread come down from heaven. 

Jesus introduced this new teaching by feeding a multitude of people with bread and fish as the Passover feast approached. (Friday, 2nd Week of Easter) Then, during the days of the feast, he gave new meaning to the Passover celebration. Commenting on the readings for the feast in the synagogue in Capernaum, he focused especially on readings from the Book of Exodus.

 “I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” ( John 6:35)

Jesus is the true bread that comes down from heaven. Moses gave bread to the people and they died. Those who eat this bread will never die. This bread gives life to the world. “Everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life.”  (Wednesday, 3rd Week of Easter) A Teacher sent from God, Jesus offers a wisdom that brings life.

He does not come just as a messenger of wisdom, however. Jesus comes to share his life, flesh and blood, with those who hear him. 

“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.
This is the bread that came down from heaven.
Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died,
whoever eats this bread will live forever.” (John 6:52-59)

 Jesus is not only the  bread of wisdom,  he is flesh to be eaten and blood to be drunk. His  solemn words “Amen, amen, I say to you” announce the mystery of the Holy Eucharist. He promises those who eat his flesh and drink his blood that he will remain in them and they will remain in him. “ The one who feeds on me will have life because of me.” 

Chapter 6 of St. Johns gospel, read these days of the Easter season, is one of the most important sources of our belief in the Eucharist. Jesus lived among us. He died and rose again. He ascended into heaven. He remains with us now in signs, especially in signs of bread and wine. If we remain in him we will have life because of him. 

Commentators on John, like Raymond Brown, recognize a two fold meaning given to bread in the 6th chapter of John. In verses 35-51 Jesus describes himself as a Teacher; he is the bread of wisdom. In verses 51-59 the Bread he speaks of is his own flesh and blood. Both meanings are present in the Mass. Jesus is our Teacher as the scriptures are read. He is flesh and blood as the bread and wine are offered and then given to us.