When you meet the Lord, you cannot remain indifferent. Paul met Jesus on his way, and that meeting changed him forever. The direction of his zeal did a 180-degree flip. He went from searching out Christians and hauling them in for justice before the Sanhedrin to searching them out to tell them about Jesus and His mercy.
Paul’s conversion changed his life forever, but that change was sustained by a daily choice. Paul chose to believe that the experience he had that day on the road to Damascus was really the Lord. He chose to follow through with the consequences of that experience.
Strong and Shocking Words
Today’s Gospel also provoked and continues to provoke a choice. Jesus’ words, “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,” were strong and shocking words. Many who heard Jesus that day stopped following him. It was even difficult for his apostles, but they did respond with faith: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of everlasting life.”
This passage is the Scriptural basis for our Catholic belief in the Eucharist: mainly that during the consecration in the Holy Mass, the bread and wine become fully and entirely the Body and Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and we are invited to do just what Jesus said. Those of us who receive Communion eat His Body and drink His Blood.
Why?
Why would we want to do this? Is it even attractive to us in any way? Well, He also invited them and us to “remain in” Him. (Read John 14) He also said, “The one who feeds on me will have life because of me.” The question then becomes, “Do I want to remain in Him and have life in Him?”
My answer is yes. I want to remain in Him. I want to live in His Heart. I want to. This man died for me and rose for me. I want to be in Him and He in me if at all possible. What about you?
