In the realm of faith, we encounter food that has no parallels, to which nothing on earth can be compared. John the Baptist died in prison because he told the King and Herodias the truth. The description of the event first turns our attention to Herod and Herodias. The Gospel scene also tells about hope.
Francis Bogdan in the book “To Spread the word of the Lord” (Kraków 1995, p. 227) tells this event: A woman possessed by the devil was brought to the bishop. The bishop saw that this was an unusual case and called many people. He approached this woman with the Eucharistic Christ. The evil spirit began to shake its victim, smashing it like some kind of object. Someone from the crowd called out: “Why are you trembling before a piece of bread?” And a harsh voice came out of the woman: “I tremble not before bread but before Christ himself.” During the blessing, the devil left the suffering woman. The crowd heard from the mouth of the devil himself about the strength, power, and love of Christ for us humans.
Another event speaks of the greatness of God’s love in the Eucharist. She is told by St. Ján Eymard (+1886). One day he received a container with little guests. It turns out that a group of thieves stole it ten years ago. Some of them were thrown into the landfill. One of them felt remorse and began to fear God’s punishment for his act. He finally found the courage, confessed to the priest, and the container came into the hands of the priest.
We realize that dishonoring this love of God causes a lot of damage to a person’s soul. The sacrilegious acceptance of Christ does not bring grace, but real punishments already here on earth. One stops enjoying friendship with Jesus. He has no joy in the faith. He is subject to the other effects of spiritual emptiness. The Church teaches and reminds us that receiving this gift is a means for us to receive many new graces. It is not easy today to receive Christ in the Eucharist. It is necessary to overcome shyness, lack of interest, and, of course, personal sin. However, we believers can convince ourselves of the greatness of the graces that we receive through the gift of Jesus, which he gives himself to us. It is necessary to appreciate this gift.
Along with the well-known “Stradivarka” violin, there is also a tradition of this event, which was reported by Paris radio on March 25, 1957. An elderly woman asked a tax official to borrow 10 francs for bread. She wanted to give a violin in return. The official looked at the dusty violin and rejected it, saying that business is not allowed in the office. The old woman left. When they were closing the office in the evening, they found her dead in a corner. When they examined the violin, they found that it was a well-known violin, the value of which reached one hundred thousand francs. The old woman died of hunger. Neither she nor the official knew their value.
We will use the price of life for our victory.
