Taste and See

John 6:51-58

May 8, 1960: Mother’s Day, which was a Holy Day of Obligation in the Murphy household, for me and my 9 siblings. May 8 was also the day of my First Communion, as a second grader at St. Joseph Grade School in Yakima.

In preparation for our communion day, we learned a simple song, which is like Taize songs sung in some churches today. The words were: “ Oh taste and see that the Lord is good, happy the one who believes in him.” Many, many years after singing that song as a second grader solemnly approaching the St. Joseph Church communion rail, I learned that it is a rendering of Psalm 34:8. Learning that, it meant even more to me than it did on May 8, 1960.

So as I now reflect on Jesus’ words in John 6:51-58, I am once again drawn to my First Communion song. I think of the song often as I receive communion all these years later. I think of the song as I grapple with Jesus’ jaw-dropping assertion: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life.”

There’s no doubt that, if I had been among the original hearers of Jesus’ crazy words, I too would have argued sharply and said, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” It’s one thing (although still challenging) to look back on those words through the lens of 2,000 years of theological debate and church practice. But it would have been quite another to hear those words for the first time. And (drat!), in his customary fashion, Jesus did not give a tidy three point sermon answering every question about what in the world could he possibly mean?!!

So, as I walk back to my pew after receiving communion week after week, I try to keep it simple. I can’t explain all that it means to eat Jesus’ flesh and drink his blood. But I do know that I can taste the bread and juice as I take my seat. And that taste —that thoroughly physical sensation — says to me: “Ingest Jesus.” Partake of him so personally, so completely, that he becomes a part of me. A part of me just like that bread and juice. I taste and see that it is good, just like I taste and see that the Lord is good.

“Happy the one who believes in him.”