Lecturer’s report June 9, 2022, by Greg Brown

Bishop Robert Barron on the Eucharist and the Gospel of John 6:60-69’

“Friends, in today’s Gospel, we learn that many disciples left the Lord because he said they had no life unless they were to eat his flesh and drink his blood.

Why has the gift of the Eucharist been, from the beginning, a source of contention? Why have we, from Jesus’ time to the present day, been fighting over it? Shouldn’t it be the source of our unity and deepest joy? Well, yes. But we can’t overlook the fact that it has always divided—just as Jesus himself divided people: "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters."

When they heard Jesus lay out the teaching in all of its power, many of them left. In fact, so many left that Jesus wondered aloud to his disciples, "Do you also want to leave?" You get the sense that the whole Church, the whole Christian project, was hanging in the balance.

How wonderful that Peter responds, as he did in the synoptic Gospels to another of Jesus’ probing questions, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life." That is the great Catholic answer, the hinge, the cardinal point.”

End of Bishop Barron’s comments.

The USCCB is beginning a huge three year initiative on Eucharistic Amazement this month. They are asking the Knights to help lead the way on this endeavor. With 70% of Catholics not believing in the Real Presence, a great emphasis on Eucharistic revival is needed. As you can see from Bishop Barron’s comments, the Eucharist has been a source of difficulty for as long as there has been Christians. Throughout this initiative we Knights will be involved in the Archdiocese and our parishes. Of course we will! That is what we do! Look forward to how we help with this great initiative. “Master, to whom shall we go?”