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Master·evangeli.net

Today's Gospel + short theological explanation

Thursday of the Third Week of Easter
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Gospel text (Jn 6:44-51): Jesus said to the crowds: “(…) I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my Flesh for the life of the world.”

John 6: the Word converts itself in “bread” first of all through Incarnation

EDITORIAL TEAM evangeli.net (based on texts by Benedict XVI) (Città del Vaticano, Vatican)

Today, Jesus’ words reveal how we can “nourish ourselves” with God and live off of Him: God converts Himself into “bread” for us, first of all in the Logos’ Incarnation (God’s Image, the Son of God). The Word has changed into Flesh! The Logos makes Himself one of us and thus enters into our sphere, in what is accessible to us.

Nevertheless, with respect to the incarnation of the Word, an additional step is needed, which is mentioned in the final words of the sermon: His flesh is life “for” the world (cf. 6,51). Herewith is a reference beyond the act of incarnation, to the inner purpose and its last achievement: the offer Jesus makes of Himself until the death and the mystery of the Cross.

—Jesus becomes a man to surrender Himself and to replace the animal sacrifices, which could just be the signs of a yearning but not an answer. The Bread definitively contains the mystery of the Passion.