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Jesus is a strange, often controversial, figure. 

He teaches us to love our enemies; to pray for those who persecute us; to turn the other cheek when someone strikes us; to pick up our crosses and follow him.

And while we’re at it, take nothing for the journey.

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But today’s teaching is probably the hardest of all to understand. 

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven,” Jesus says, “whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”

Eat my flesh, Jesus says, and you will live forever.

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Catholics understand this to be a reference to the Eucharist. It’s why we celebrate Mass every day.

Yet many Christians, even some Catholics, struggle to understand this. Some believe the Eucharist is plain bread and wine; a symbolic gesture.

Did Jesus ever consider the possibility that this particular teaching would be so hard to understand? Or was he oblivious to the idea of doubt?

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“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him,” he says.

We must be drawn into belief.

This word, “to draw,” in Greek helkuein, always implies a type of resistance. 

It’s the same word John uses to describe the effort it takes to draw a net full of fish ashore. Think of the resistance offered by the water, then by the sand.

That net literally has to be dragged.

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How often are we like a net of fish being dragged ashore? 

We resist. 

Although God constantly draws us into belief, we resist his pull. 

Some resist believing in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Some resist believing in God’s presence in our lives. Some resist loving our neighbors or praying for those who persecute us.

But many resist the implications of our faith. If Christ is present in the Sacraments, then he is present in us.

This may be the greatest challenge of all: seeing Christ in one another, and acting accordingly.

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Instead of carrying these crosses, we drag them.

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“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him,” Jesus says.

Even if we must be dragged like a net of fish in the sand, God will never stop drawing us deeper into love and belief. 

But the less we resist, the happier – the freer – we become.

How can we lessen our resistance to belief today?

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There’s an old Native American tale about two wolves, which they believe are living inside all of us.

Unfortunately, they’re at war with one another, vying for our time and attention.

One wolf feeds on negativity; things like anger, lust, jealousy, gluttony, and pride.

While the other feeds on positivity; things like love, compassion, generosity, kindness, and faith.

The question is, “Which wolf wins?”

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The one we feed.

Which wolf am I feeding?

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We can summarize much of Jesus’ teachings into this idea; feed the good wolf within.

As he says in the Gospel, “Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life.”

Feeding that good wolf within leads to lasting happiness, and ultimately, eternal life.

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During this Coronavirus pandemic, it’s become much harder to feed that good wolf. 

We’re all stressed, bored, cooped up, and somehow exhausted.

It’s all too easy to become angry, selfish, and lazy in times like this; it’s easy to feed that negative wolf within.

The Lord invites us to do the opposite; to feast on patience, kindness, and faith. If we do, then we’ll come out of this crisis healthier, happier people. 

But the choice is ours.

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Which wolf will you feed?

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In the Gospel, Jesus promises to give us the power to speak new languages. But out of every language on this planet, which one is the most important?

After all, there is one language we all must speak.

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The language of love.

Love is what drives out the demon of hatred; the demons of pride and prejudice; the demons of jealousy, envy and greed. 

As it’s written elsewhere, “Love covers a multitude of sins.”

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Fortunately, there’s more than one way to speak this language of love. Some say there are five primary ways.

We express love through words of affirmation; through acts of service; by offering gifts; by spending quality time with others; and through physical touch.

So how do I speak this language of love?

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Maybe I prepare a home cooked meal for my family each night; an act of service. 

Maybe I insist on telling my family I love them before ending a phone call; words of affirmation.

Maybe I show my love by offering a hug; physical touch.

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There is one language we all must speak, the language of love. However you say it, make sure you say it today.