John 6:66

Mark S. Roberti, Director of Stewardship

Heartland Parishes of Ellis County

“From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.” (Jn 6:66) This follows the bread of life discourse, one of Jesus’ longest and most important discourses in the Bible. I quote from the King James Version, the Protestant version, because I learned long ago that other Christians are more inclined to listen on their own turf.  I hope you will share this article with family members who have left the Church, or non-Catholic friends whom you think will objectively engage in a discussion.

Though I write this article in a Catholic newspaper it’s not meant just for Catholics. 

What I also want inactive Catholics and non-Catholics to understand is how emphatic Jesus was with respect to this teaching about the Eucharist. 

A fair number of Catholics leave the Church.  In fact, taken together, they are larger than any other Christian denomination.  Catholicism itself is not a denomination.  The term “Catholic” means universal.  To call it a denomination would be a contradiction in terms.  Thus, inactive Catholics are the second largest body of Christians in the world.

There are many reasons why Catholics leave the Church.  Some leave because they are divorced and think they have been excommunicated.  In a very small number of cases, if a Catholic leaves the Church and remarries, that is true.  Recent reports have revealed that nine out of ten marriages are actually annulled when they go through the annulment process.  For a multitude of different reasons, the marriages may not be considered sacramental.  In a world so off kilter, it is easy to understand why.

Some people leave the Catholic Church because they don’t feel particularly welcomed or prefer the camaraderie and music at another Church.  Some disagree with the Catholic Church’s teachings.  A good number just kind of drift away.  They don’t see any relevance to either God or Church in their lives…that is until something jerks them back to reality.   

Whether you are in the Church, have left Catholic Church, or have never been particularly interested in what the Catholic Church has to say, you need to read the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John, particularly starting around verse 25.

In the bread of life discourse, Jesus drives home a very important point that he wants every Christian, and all people, to understand.  He states, “I am the bread of life which came down from heaven; if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” (Jn 6:51)  In the very next passage, the Jews argue among themselves as to what he means?  They say, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat? (Jn 6:52)

Jesus responds, “Verily, verily [truly, truly] I say unto you, Except ye eat of the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood yet shall have no life in you.” (John 6:53). Two passages later, he says, “For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed” John 6:55).

To understand the importance of this passage you really need to know the hard edges of the Greek words trogo and sarx.  In John 6:54, 56, 57, and 58, Jesus uses the word trogo which means to eat, chew, or crunch.  In John 6:55, the Greek word sarx is used.  The English equivalent would be a chunk of flesh. 

In John 6:55, Jesus says, “My flesh is meat indeed and my blood is drink indeed” (other translations are real food and real drink). In this case, the Greek word for “indeed” or “real” is “alethes” which means “really.”  Do you now see how clear this is in the original language in which the Bible is written? 

That’s why in verse 52, when the Jews are discussing amongst themselves what Jesus meant by eating his flesh, Jesus does not correct them, but in verse 53, forcefully reiterates what he originally said.   

When they leave, he does not call them back, but instead says to Peter, in verse 67, “Will ye also go away?”  In this case, Peter gets it right, and responds, “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the word of eternal life” (John 6:68).  Peter understands very clearly what Jesus is saying.  This series of passages is meant for us to likewise understand! 

Let’s look further back in the Gospel of John.  In John 3:3, Jesus says: “Verily, verily, [truthfully, truthfully] I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”  Nicodemus is confused by this.  In John 3:4, he says: “How can a man be born when he is old?  Can he enter a second time into his mother womb and be born?”

Good question!  Jesus clarifies the issue for him, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and the spirit, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:5).   In this case, unlike the bread of life discourse, Jesus further explains what he means.  He is indicating that Baptism is necessary for salvation.

After the bread of life discourse, above, Jesus has said it as clearly as he is going to say it.  No further clarifications are made.  If they choose to walk, they choose to walk.

In conclusion, the direction Christians need to be walking is toward unity in the form of proper biblical interpretation and the Eucharist. If we are already a Catholic, we need to even more fully embrace this teaching and all the teachings of the Catholic Church.  Jesus’ words are truth and life.  Understanding that is good stewardship.

If you have computer Internet capabilities, I refer you to an excellent, detailed, scriptural analysis at www.scripturecatholic.com/the_eucharist.html (after com/the there is an _ that is not showing up due to the underline my computer automatically ascribes.