August 12, 2018

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time B 1 Kings 19: 4-8; Ephesians 4: 30 - 5:2; John 6: 41-51 Its good to take time to reflect on the things that cloud my vision as I live my daily life. For example: Do I get upset when I don’t get my way? What discourages me? Do I find myself getting jealous over what others do or have? Do I find myself saying ‘It’s just unfair’ more often in my conversations? Does it seem that at times ‘people are out to get me’? Do I find myself ‘hearing what I want to hear’ versus what is really said? Do I find myself more inclined to anger? Just a few of these can put me in a ‘quiet mode’ of feeling ‘persecuted’ or of ‘poor me’s’. This could even make me not a very nice person to be around. When we reflect on this, we see that we make decisions or react to people not in a very right-minded way. Hopefully forgiveness and apologies are a part of our daily lives too. The point is that this is what ‘influences’ our lives in a negative way. A big problem surfaces when we apply these negative attitudes to our loving God…and we all do this. We see this in today’s readings and we hear Jesus’ beautiful description of His love and care for each of us. In chapter 18 of the 1 Kings, Elijah had confronted over four hundred prophets of Baal over which god was the real god—Baal or Yahweh. Now ‘Baal’ was the god of many ancient Middle Eastern countries. The Canaanites considered him a fertility deity and one of the most important gods. He was also called the ‘lord of rain and dew’, two-forms of moisture that were indispensable for fertile soil in Canaan. Elijah had challenged the 400 prophets and won; then slew them and the people declared that the Lord alone was God in Israel. Jezebel the ‘wife’ of King Ahab treatened to kill Elijah who flees for his life. This is where today’s first reading begins. Elijah felt that after all his faithful service, God had abandoned him and he was a failure and prays for death. But an angel brings him food and water and commands that he takes nourishment because God continues to have plans for him. Reluctantly he does and the angel brings him more nourishment for his trip to Mt. Horeb, where Moses had encountered God in the days of the Exodus. Paul is encountering the Ephesians. Verses before today’s reading Paul had told them, “So I declare and testify in the Lord that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do in the futility of their minds; darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance, because of their hardness of heart, they have become callous and have handed themselves over to licentiousness for the practice of every kind of impurity to excess. This is not how you learned Christ” (Ephesians 4: 17-20). The people are to stay clear of those vices against others, such as lying, anger, stealing and evil talk. Today Paul starts with the final admonition, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption.” By our Baptism we have been called to imitate the love God has for each person. So as a result each of us “…must be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.” If we are totally focused on ourselves and how we are being ‘persecuted’ we are not aware of others, and we don’t want to be: ‘It’s me that has been hurt…’ Love for one another in imitation of Jesus who loved everyone and showed us how to love by His example culminating in His death the Cross, is the aspect that defines a Christian. So how am I living as a Christian, a believer in Jesus and His follower? Is it about me or is it about God? The ‘Bread of Life Discourse’ continues on in this week’s gospel. The people are complaining. They can’t understand Jesus. They grew up with Him and knew His family? How can He be someone special? Jesus is moving them beyond the literal surface of the issue at hand. “Stop murmuring among yourselves. No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws them, and I will raise them on the last day.” Jesus is talking to each one of us. He is telling us that God, the Trinity loves totally each person. Jesus declares that He is the bread of life come down from heaven. He is contrasting this to the ‘manna’ that also came down from heaven (Exodus 16). They can’t figure out how He came down from heaven because everyone knows where He lived and who His parents were. The point is that Jesus, not the manna is God’s life-giving gift to the world. Jesus is showing us His relationship to God. Jesus is showing us God’s love. Jesus is God’s love. Am I letting God break through my ‘complaints’ to see His constant love that has been present in my life? Do I respond in gratitude for God’s continual goodness and care for me? Am I responding to, “They shall all be taught by God.” Jesus is promising resurrection on the last day for each person. Then Jesus employs the “amen, amen” devices indicating that He is about to make a very emphasis: “Whoever believes has eternal life.” Jesus is focusing on the fact that HE is the bread of life. Manna only provided nourishment for their physical well being. Manna had no power to prevent death. Those who eat the real bread’ that comes down from heaven will not die. Again He emphasizes His identity as that living bread. He continues and goes even further declaring that this bread is His “flesh for the life of the world.” While this is not yet a full blown development of the doctrine Eucharist, it is moving quickly in that direction. Jesus is asking if I believe this? Jesus is asking if I trust Him? Each time I come to receive the Eucharist I say “Amen” which means ‘Yes, I believe’. Do I? Maybe, I could add, ‘Help my unbelief amid my distractions today.’ In each Eucharist we receive the bread of life from heaven. We receive Christ: His strength, His love, His compassion, His grace, His help with all that ails us. We share in His divine life. AND He promises heaven to us. So I reflect on: • How has eating the Bread of Life helped me to see in new ways? • Which of the vices listed in Ephesians do I need to remove to help me see as God sees? • When have I been so discouraged that, like Elijah, I just wanted to give up? • What do I murmur in my heart? • How much do I need to be fed and nourished by Jesus right now? Do I ask? What’s holding me back? • Are there people who refuse to be nourished by Jesus? How much of society’s disease is the result of spiritual malnutrition? • Elijah was fed by an angel. Who are the ‘angels’ who meet those who are tired and weary, empowering them to continue of their journey in life? Where have they helped me? Sacred Space 2018 “Their personal knowledge of Jesus has made the people skeptical about His claims. Is our sense of awe and wonder blunted by familiarity? I am invited daily to the eucharistic table, to eat the bread of eternal life. Do I approach that table with apathy or with a quickening heart? When were my eyes last opened, and when did I last recognize Christ in the breaking of the bread?”