Throughout the New Testament, we run into places where Jesus says: “Be Catholic!” Today, The Only Church He Founded has chosen a Daily Reading that contains passages in which Jesus says: “Be Catholic!” Not only is John 6: 30-35 another place where Jesus says: “Be Catholic!”, but also, He tells us that we must receive Catholic Communion!
The crowd said to Jesus: “What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”
So Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
So they said to Jesus, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
That’s as clear as it needs to be. The only place we may receive His actual Body is in Catholic Communion. There, priests in a living link with the Apostles whom Jesus ordained are, like them, empowered to provide the Miracle of Transubstantiation. Catholic priests, in the Catholic Mass, actually turn bread and wine into His Body and Blood.
It is obvious that in this passage, taken in context, Jesus says! “Be Catholic.” It is more than an instruction in which Jesus says: “Be Catholic!” He also says “Be an obedient Catholic and receive The Sacraments.” It is clear, He wants us to do more than merely “believe”. Those whose belief is accompanied by actually obeying “come to me” and receiving His Body in Catholic Communion will have “life”. Jesus says so. Who in their right mind would argue with Him?
The blessed leave the confusing clamor of 43,000 silly schisms. They understand that such confusion comes from 43,000 competing, conflicting messages crying out in desperation, “Believe in us and give us money!” Better to listen and obey when we see that Jesus says: “Be Catholic!”
We must be as cunning as snakes to understand many who make a living from the schisms do not want us to pay attention when Jesus says: “Be Catholic!” That helps us understand whose work some of them may be doing in sowing confusion.