FAUSTI - John, in his own style, does not recount the institution of the Eucharist, but prefers instead to make its profound mystery understood, making explicit what the other Gospels leave implicit. Eating in fact means assuming, putting in and assimilating food. To believe in Jesus, to adhere to Him and to love Him, here it is called "eating". Man becomes what he eats, or rather, what he loves. The Son of God loved us to the point of being devoured by His Love for us and becoming the Son of man raised up; we, loving and eating Him, become children of God. The text has two levels of reading. A second reading is always possible, because each Word says something else, and, in the end, the Other says something. This is especially true for the Gospel of John, who, instead of telling the story of the Transfiguration, makes it the lens through which to look at everything else. In fact, he observes with the eye and the new heart of those who love, that in everything he sees the Face of the Beloved. This vision, far from being visionary, is the most real of all, because it is made in the light of Him who is Light and Life of all that exists. The first level of reading is also understandable for the listeners of Jesus. Affirming that He is the Bread of Life and that His Flesh is the true manna of the New Exodus, Jesus attributes to Himself the prerogatives of the Word. Thus it is revealed how the fulfillment of what the Exodus and the Covenant, and even before that the Creation, mean: God's plan to communicate His Life to man. Eating and assimilating Him, the Son loved by the Father who loves his brothers and sisters, is the New Law. For this reason, those who do not accept Him, do not carry out God's works and do not receive Life. The second level of reading is transparent to the Christian reader: it is a real homily on the Eucharist. His Flesh is not metaphorical: it is really His Body given for us. Whoever eats His Flesh, True Bread, and feeds on Him, receives the supreme gift of God: the Body and Blood of the Son, who puts Him in Communion of Life with Him and with the Father. The Son loved and sent to his brothers and sisters, is all "from" and "from" the Father: he lives thanks to Him, to Him and for Him. He came to communicate to us, as our Life, this relationship with Him, which is His Essence as Son.
FAUSTI - John, in his own style, does not recount the institution of the Eucharist, but prefers instead to make its profound mystery understood, making explicit what the other Gospels leave implicit. Eating in fact means assuming, putting in and assimilating food.
RispondiEliminaTo believe in Jesus, to adhere to Him and to love Him, here it is called "eating".
Man becomes what he eats, or rather, what he loves.
The Son of God loved us to the point of being devoured by His Love for us and becoming the Son of man raised up; we, loving and eating Him, become children of God.
The text has two levels of reading. A second reading is always possible, because each Word says something else, and, in the end, the Other says something. This is especially true for the Gospel of John, who, instead of telling the story of the Transfiguration, makes it the lens through which to look at everything else.
In fact, he observes with the eye and the new heart of those who love, that in everything he sees the Face of the Beloved.
This vision, far from being visionary, is the most real of all, because it is made in the light of Him who is Light and Life of all that exists.
The first level of reading is also understandable for the listeners of Jesus.
Affirming that He is the Bread of Life and that His Flesh is the true manna of the New Exodus, Jesus attributes to Himself the prerogatives of the Word.
Thus it is revealed how the fulfillment of what the Exodus and the Covenant, and even before that the Creation, mean: God's plan to communicate His Life to man.
Eating and assimilating Him, the Son loved by the Father who loves his brothers and sisters, is the New Law.
For this reason, those who do not accept Him, do not carry out God's works and do not receive Life.
The second level of reading is transparent to the Christian reader: it is a real homily on the Eucharist.
His Flesh is not metaphorical: it is really His Body given for us.
Whoever eats His Flesh, True Bread, and feeds on Him, receives the supreme gift of God: the Body and Blood of the Son, who puts Him in Communion of Life with Him and with the Father.
The Son loved and sent to his brothers and sisters, is all "from" and "from" the Father: he lives thanks to Him, to Him and for Him.
He came to communicate to us, as our Life, this relationship with Him, which is His Essence as Son.