Writer discusses Holy Communion

To the editor:

In celebrating Holy Communion -- receiving the body and blood of Jesus Christ -- Catholics participate in the original sacrifice on the Cross at Calvary. Jesus is not killed over and over at the Catholic Mass. God is Lord of time and space. Jesus' sacrifice is perpetual just as His Resurrection is perpetual and is the source of our hope. When Jesus said [John 6:54] "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise on the last day," there were people who did not believe. Jesus repeats what He said more than a couple times such as, [John 6:56] "Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him."

There were people who left him, turned off by this idea, this "cannibalism" as it were. [John 6:66] "As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him."

Jesus did not stop them and say, "I was just kidding; it's just a symbol; you don't really eat my flesh!"

[John 6:67] "Jesus then said to the Twelve, 'Do you also want to leave?'"

Jesus gave us His body to sustain us on this journey toward Heaven, to help us resist the forces of evil.