Unlike the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke, the gospel of John does not include Jesus’ words of consecration instituting the Eucharist at the Last Supper. It was written several years after the other three accounts, by which time those to whom it was addressed were quite familiar with the words of consecration repeated at Mass each week. John’s Last Supper account focuses instead on connecting the Eucharist with how we are to live out the sacrament in service of others, symbolized with the washing of his disciples’ feet, and an extended prayer for the unity and strength of the church. In this weekend’s text from John’s 6th chapter, Jesus speaks of himself as the “Bread of Life” with the promise that whoever eats this bread will live forever, a clear reference to the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Coupled with the words from the Lord’s Prayer “give us this day our daily bread”, we understand that the Eucharist is not just a moment of unity with Jesus at Mass but also the nourishment we need to live our faith throughout the week.