Today’s Gospel reminds me of Thomas Tallis’ great work: Verily, Verily I Say Unto You. Tallis served as musician of the royal court under four monarchs: King Henry VII, King Edward VI, Queen Mary I, and Queen Elizabeth I. This work is an example of the Anglican Reformation in England. King Edward VI (1547-1553) mandated that the services be sung in English and that the choral music be brief and succinct. The melody and harmony of this work reflects the mystical text of the Bread of Life Discourse. Take a listen:

The musical motet about the Eucharist is clear, noble, simple, and concise. As we evangelize in our modern day, we can tip our hat to this musical work and keep in mind that our work should be clear, concise, and exact.

Last week, I reflected on Psalm 34. The antiphon is Taste and see the goodness of God. I posed the question, “How do we taste and see God’s goodness?” I explored the perceptual phenomenon called synesthesia, a condition in which our senses cross wires. Psalm 34 is an example of synesthesia in the spiritual life. We taste and see God’s goodness. We encounter God with all our senses, spiritual and physical.

Psalm 34 strongly reminds us that we should not follow Jesus if we want an easy life! At times life will not be sweet. It will have a bitter or bland taste as we follow Christ. In the psalm, the psalmist begins with a firm resolution to bless God at all times. The poor bless God and the stalwart takes refuge in God. Later in the psalm, we hear how God watches over all our bones, saves us in our affliction. The psalmist reminds us that it takes a deep abiding trust to follow God.

We find strength and renewed fervor in trusting God when we gather as the Body of Christ, the Church. In the Body of Christ we address each other in psalms and hymns, singing and playing to the Lord in our hearts. Saint Paul reminds us that the Spirit forms, informs, and transforms the assembly. When we gather to sing together we turn to the altar of God where we are nourished by the Bread of Life. We consume Wisdom and are filled with God’s holy presence.

In John 6, Jesus firmly tells his followers on four accounts that he is the Bread of Life. The people leave him while his disciples stay. This passage, revealing Christ as the Bread of Life, Saint Paul’s account of the Eucharist in his letter to Corinth along with the Gospel accounts give us the framework of our Eucharistic faith.

Do we truly take Jesus at his word? Are we moved to the core when he says, “I am the Bread of Life … whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood will live forever”? Or have we become accustomed to the words of institution that it has lost its force on our hearts?

Let’s deliberately sing a new song, reevaluate what is most important in life, and return to Jesus with our whole being.