Today, the Gospel shows how puzzled Jesus' compatriots were when in his presence: «This man is the son of Joseph, isn't he? We know his father and mother. How can he say that he has come from heaven?» (Jn 6:42). The life of Jesus amongst his own people had been so normal that, when He began with the proclamation of the Kingdom, those who knew him were shocked at what He was saying.

What Father was Jesus referring to, whom nobody had ever seen before? Which could be that living bread coming from heaven that those who eat of it would live forever? He denied it was the manna in the desert because those who ate it also died. «The bread I shall give is my flesh and I will give it for the life of the world» (Jn 6:51). Could his flesh be an aliment for us? The baffling doubts Jesus was spreading amongst the Jews could also embarrass us should we not be able to answer a question basic for our Christian life: Who is Jesus?

Many men and women before us have asked themselves the same question, have personally answered it, have gone to Jesus, have followed him and now they enjoy an endless life full of love. And those who now may come to Jesus, He will raise them up on the last day. (cf. Jn 6:44). John Cassian exhorted his monks by telling them: «‘Come close to God, and He will come close to you’, because ‘nobody can come to Jesus unless he is drawn by the Father who sent Him’ (...). In the Gospel we listen to the Lord inviting us to join Him: ‘You who are burdened and overwhelmed, come to me and I will make you rest’». Let us welcome the Word of the Gospel that every day brings us nearer to Jesus; let us welcome the invitation of the very Gospel to enter into communion with Him by eating his flesh, because «This is the true food, Christ's flesh, which being Word has become flesh, as it is said ‘And the Word became flesh’» (Origen).