"This is a hard saying; who can believe it?" Much murmuring followed the words of Jesus when He promised the Eucharist. "From then on many of His disciples turned and walked with Him no more" (John 6:60).
   

    To this point, the ministry of Jesus had been enormously successful. Thousands followed Him for the signs were astounding.  The blind saw! The lame walked! The deaf heard! Even the dead were raised to life! Yet, Saint John cautions: "A vast crowd kept following Him because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick"(6:2).
     

    “My kingdom is not of this world!”  Always, He had insisted that He was not a political, sociological or economic savior. His mission was the Redemption, atonement to the Heavenly Father for the sin of the world. He was sent to restore the order that was destroyed by sin.  Jesus Christ is the "ransom" by which we were purchased from the bondage of sin, the dominion of Satan and the punishment of eternal death.  Jesus Christ is the "Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world."
   

    When Jesus announced the Eucharist, He put His followers to the supreme test: "I am the living Bread that comes down from heaven; whoever eats this Bread will live forever; the Bread that I give is my Flesh for the life of the world" (John 6: 51-52). 
   

    The Jews retorted: "How can this man give us His flesh to eat?" "Let me solemnly assure you,” Jesus answered, “unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood you have no life in you.  Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life and I will raise Him up on the last day.  For my Flesh is true food and my Blood is true drink.  Whoever eats my Flesh and drinks my Blood remains in me and I in Him"(John 6:53-56).
   

    With these astonishing words, the masses left the Lord. "This is a hard saying; who can believe it?  Many turned and walked with Him no more,” John wrote.  Yet! Some remained. Like us, they understand not; their faith was still weak. Nevertheless, they took Our Lord at His word.  Indeed, He would accept nothing less for He then said to the Twelve: “Do you also wish to leave?"  Peter answered for us that day: "Master, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life" (John 6:69).
   

    My dear friends, the Eucharist is Our Lord’s Gift Beyond Compare! We must believe Him. We must adore His Eucharistic Presence for Jesus Christ is the Son of God.  Like Peter, we too must trust Our Lord.  The Blessed Sacrament is the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. The Church is clear: “By the consecration the transubstantiation of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ is brought about.  Under the consecrated species of bread and wine Christ Himself, living and glorious, is present in a true, real, and substantial manner: His Body and His Blood, with His soul and divinity” (Catechism n. 1413).
   

    During this Year of the Eucharist, may Our Blessed Mother leads us to a deep and abiding devotion for Jesus truly present in the Most Blessed Sacrament.  Let the words of our Holy Father become our own: “STAY WITH US LORD!  STAY WITH US!”