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 even as he attempts to open the eyes of the people into the great sign which was present in their midst (Jesus himself). In the passage we have read today, Jesus takes the discourse a step further by identifying the bread of life with his own flesh (his being/life). As had become the norm, the crowd found it hard to wrap their heads around what Jesus was talking about. But to us who are reading and listening to these words of his today, we understand him to be referring to his self-offering 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 creation’s attainment and subsequent enjoyment of the fullness of life. 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, as it were, 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 to his climactic rising from the dead. 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 and charitable, loving, kind, compassionate, and above all, looks forward to being re-united with its creator. May we become partakers of the bread of life which Jesus gives to the world, and may that bread of life transform us into beings who are fully alive in God.