The bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world. Jesus continues to elaborate on the bread of life discourse, and in the passage we have read today, he goes even further by identifying the bread of life with his own flesh (his life). To us, this implies the self-offering of Jesus on the cross, and rightly so for in the death and resurrection of Jesus, the world was gifted with a new lease of life. It was a self-offering whose sole end is the enjoyment (attainment) of the fullness of life by creation. In other words, Jesus gives his very life to the world so that the world can have a share in his life. In his self-sacrifice, Jesus steps out of himself, pours himself out, and gives himself to the world. But how does this give life to the world?
It is not the “death of Jesus” as such that gives life to the world, but rather the paschal mystery in its entirety, beginning with the incarnation. Jesus chose to share in our human nature so that we in turn can share in his divine nature. We share in Jesus’ divine nature (life) when we participate in his way of life. “I have come so that they can have life in abundance,” says Jesus (cf. John 10:10). This abundance of life does not necessarily mean more years added to our life-span (which can still be part of it, nonetheless) but rather points to the quality of that life. The life of the world is given quality by being co-opted into the life of Jesus. A life that has been co-opted into Jesus’ life is self-less/charitable, loving, kind, compassionate, and above all, looks forward to being re-united with its creator.