We read that when Jesus tells the folks listening to him that he is the living bread from
heaven and that anyone who eats this bread will live forever, they begin to argue with each other. This did not just happen in Jesus’ time. Today, in our Church community, people still argue about what Jesus means! Is the Eucharist really the body and blood of Christ? Or is the Eucharist a symbol? Catholic teaching is that, during the celebration of the Eucharist, the bread and wine we offer become the body of the blood of Christ.
There is something important that happens in this narrative. We see how people listening to Jesus struggle to understand his words. They turn to each other and, we are told, argue
about what he says. Today too, we grapple with many things to do with belief and faith. Perhaps you have found yourself arguing with someone about matters of faith.
Arguing about matters of faith is a two-edged sword. We can land up greatly divided - like we see often happening in the history of the Church - or we can see this as an opportunity to reflect and grow. So much of our body of theology has grown from arguments about faith and belief. Division often happens when we lose focus, and the arguing becomes about imposing my opinion (point of view)
on others. When it comes to God, none of us can claim to know all. When we think we do, we are close to idolatry, as one person cannot understand God’s fullness.
In the Eucharistic community, we’re invited to ask the questions we want to ask, offer our own experiences, and sometimes argue. If we do this with the Eucharist at the centre, we, like the people listening to Jesus, will not be left in the dark. Notice how Jesus, in the text, hears their arguments and replies to them. In the Eucharistic community, we should have the place and space to ask
questions, argue and listen together to the words that Jesus speaks in our gathering. When this happens, we grow in faith and belief together.
What questions might you want to ask about God at this point? Have you ever experienced a place and space where you can argue about faith and belief, which has been helpful in your growth in faith? Could you create a space amid the Eucharistic community so that people can talk about their struggles in faith?
Reflections by Gillian Hugo
