By Erica Schieffer

These next few weekends we will be covering John, chapter 6, where Jesus essentially gives us the recipe for eternal life, His flesh and blood. John 6: 22-71 (more specifically, 48-68).

For our children who will begin their journey towards discovering Jesus in the Eucharist, this passage asks us to trust a pretty tough truth.

Jesus tells us that His body and blood are true food. This miraculous food is the nourishment our souls need for eternal life.

Parents, I invite you to try this activity at home with your children to discover what trusting God can do.

Gather an empty mason jar with the outer rim lid, a piece of screen mesh, water, and a bowl.

Say, when we don’t put our trust in Jesus, do things our own way, and lean on our own understanding, it’s like putting water in an empty jar then turning it upside down (make sure the bowl is under the jar). What happens? The water spills out.

Then place the screen over the opening and secure it with the metal ring. Pour the water into the jar through the screen. Use your hand to cover the opening, turn the jar over (above the bowl), and remove your hand. What happens? The water remains in the jar.

Then say, when we trust Jesus with difficult things, like the mystery of the Eucharist, we can see Him do some pretty incredible things with that trust!

Let’s thank God for the gift of the Eucharist!