From Pastor Romeo Velos, BREAD OF LIFE

Jesus said, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life!” These words are shocking to the Jews. They sound like cannibalism. Many of the disciples of Jesus left him. What is Jesus saying here? He reveals Himself as the New Lamb. This is a sacrificial language. This points to the Passover lamb sacrificed to save the lives of the Israelites in Egypt, a sacrifice which Israel commemorates annually. The sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross is a sacrifice in behalf of the world—not just Israel. It recalls the Suffering Servant, who bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors (Isaiah 53:13). By giving His life on the Cross, Jesus reveals God’s extravagant love, loving to the end and giving all. He paid the price for our salvation. We are saved by His selfless love because God’s love is the only true power in the universe. By dying on the Cross, Jesus restores our true identity, created in the likeness and image of God. By dying on the Cross, He defeated death, sin and evil forever. To eat the flesh of Jesus and to drink His blood is to be totally united with Him and filled with His spirit and vision. It is to be like Him, to imitate His selfless love. It is to make His choices, vision, priorities our own. It is to carry our own cross after Him and accept the sufferings which come into our lives. It is the only way to be totally free and fully alive. This requires gift of faith. Faith empowers us to become true followers of Jesus. The food that Jesus offers is the bread and wine that are His own flesh and blood. This points to the Eucharist, the source and summit of our Christian life. The Eucharist gives us the gift of wisdom, enabling us to understand the true meaning and purpose of life. Eating and drinking refer to table fellowship with Jesus. It Indicates intimacy, unity, friendship, fidelity so that like St. Paul we can also say,
“It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me”