The Bread that I will give ~ A Reflection on the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

1 Kgs 19:4-8

Ps 34:2-9

Eph 4:30-5:2

Jn 6:41-51

Again this week, John continues his discourse about Jesus as the Bread of Life.  Jesus claims to be "the bread that came down from heaven." (6:41)  But now the people are beginning to murmur.  They have become confused and don't understand.  They know Jesus only as the son of Joseph.  They have grown up with him and his family.  They can't believe he is more that a carpenter's son.  How could this be?  Jesus is offering them eternal life if they believe in him!

From our perspective today, we can understand the confusion and murmuring of the people of Jesus' day.  However, we as Catholic Christians have come a long way in understanding what Jesus was talking about and we treasure the gift of himself that he has given to us.  We are believers in the bread of life and the eternal life that Jesus promised.

Every time we gather together as a community to celebrate Mass, we affirm our belief that the Eucharist is Christ's gift of himself to us... Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity.  This is who we encounter as we open our hands to receive him.  His presence in us is what we long for.  We also recognize him in the people we meet every day.  If we believe this, how can we not treat each person with care and respect.

Though this is our faith... our belief... we also realize that we are sinners.  We know how many times we fail to recognize Jesus in our neighbor.  We find ourselves murmuring against others; acting in ways that destroys the peace and love in our own souls and in the souls of others.  These sins and the residue that sin leaves needs to be reconciled and forgiven so that we can go forth again and witness to the Good News of God's everlasting Love for us.

Paul explains to the Ephesians how we are to live:  "All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice.  ...be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ."

The psalmist expresses his joy for God's love for us; and we can follow his example:

"I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise will ever be in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the Lord;
the lowly will hear me and be glad."



 ~ Image from the website, In Jesus