A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John.

Jesus said,

“I myself am the living bread

come down from heaven.

If anyone eats this bread

they will live forever;

the bread I will give

is my flesh, for the life of the world.”

The Temple authorities began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this one give us his flesh to eat?”  Jesus replied,

“I tell you solemnly,

if you do not eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Chosen One,

you will not have life in you.

Everyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life,

and I will raise them up on the last day.

For my flesh is real food

and my blood is real drink.

Everyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood

lives in me and I live in them.

Just as Abba God has life in me

and I have life because of Abba God,

so those who feed on me

will have life because of me.

This is the bread that came down from heaven.

It is not the kind of bread your mortal ancestors ate;

whoever eats this kind of bread will be immortal.”

The Good News as spoken through John.