Acts 8:26-40 / John 6:44-51 (2019)
If we had noticed it, the gospel texts of this week are taken from the gospel of John chapter 6.
In that chapter, Jesus gives a long discourse on the bread of life. In fact in the gospel of John, Jesus seemed to be talking much more than in the other gospels.
But Jesus is not just talking. In fact He is teaching a very important doctrine, especially when He uses phrases like "I tell you most solemnly".
And He is not just talking about bread. Jesus is telling us that He is the bread of life.
And that goes without saying that at communion what we are receiving is not bread or just the host, but Jesus Himself.
It is the Real Presence, and not a symbol, not a representation, not an imagination.
Just as what the eunuch's encounter of Philip in the 1st reading was not an imagination but a real experience and he later went on his way rejoicing.
Similarly our reception of Holy Communion is also a real encounter of Jesus the Risen Lord.
It must lead us to rejoice. If not then we have to ask ourselves "Why?"