A foretaste of Heaven ~ A reflection on the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) ~ m.a.allen

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Prv 9:1-6

Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

Eph 5:15-20

Jn 6:51-58

This week Jesus speaks to us again in John's gospel about who he is and what he has done for us.  He calls himself the living bread come down from heaven.  He promises to give us his flesh for the life of the world!

These words sounded incredible to the Jews listening to him and they began quarreling among themselves as to their meaning.  How could Jesus give them his flesh to eat?  How could he be serious?  Well, a statement like that would be impossible to understand if it were interpreted only in human terms.  But Jesus was serious and he did not back down.  Because of his great love for us, Jesus continued to speak the beautiful words that would bring hope to all who believe.

Today, we understand the words of Jesus as pertaining to the Eucharist.  Our priest used the words of theologian, Karl Rahner in describing the Eucharist as the "in-breaking of the Kingdom."  At the words of Consecration, the elements of bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ... Heaven and Earth connected... and our foretaste of Heaven.  We will have life because of this bread from heaven that Jesus is.

We contemplate the invitation of Jesus and his promise that whoever eats this bread will live forever.  We are reminded that such an invitation was already given long before when we read the words of Wisdom from the Book of Proverbs.  Wisdom, who was present with God at the creation, is calling us:  "Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed; forsake foolishness that you may live..."



 ~ Image:  Bread of Life by Corbert Gauthier