TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, AUGUST 25, 2024
- Maria Knox
- Aug 25, 2024
- 3 min read
Gospel Jn 6:60-69
Many of Jesus' disciples who were listening said, "This saying is hard; who can accept it?"
Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, "Does this shock you?
What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?
It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail.
The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.
But there are some of you who do not believe."
Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him.
And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father."
As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.
Jesus then said to the Twelve, "Do you also want to leave?"
Simon Peter answered him, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God."
REFLECTION
"This saying is hard; who can accept it?"
For the last few Sunday's (17th - 21st of Ordinary time), we have been hearing the Bread of Life discourses from the Gospel of St. John, Chapter 6. This is Year B, so we will hear them again in the year 2027.
We have heard how Jesus is explicitly telling us "I am the bread of life" (Jn 6:48), and "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever" (Jn 6:51).
It was hard for people to hear these words in His day. It is harder for us. Why?
I will paraphrase a homily by Fr. Chris Meyer I heard a few years ago:
Fr. Chris related that when he was in College, he and his buddy went to see an LSU game. For this they were going to spend the night at his grandfather's home after the game. Anyhow, the young men went to the game, and during and after they had been snacking and eating a ton of fried food. When they got to grandpa's home, he had prepared some yummy Louisiana style food. The boys could not refuse grandpa's hospitality, but at the same time they were full. With great effort they ate dinner, but did not enjoy it at all.
Father Chris's point was that we fill ourselves with so many things in life that we don't have room for Christ in our souls.
Blessed John of Ruysbroeck said: "The Love of God is a consuming Fire, Which draws us out of ourselves and swallows us up in unity with God, Where we are satisfied and overflowing, And with Him, beyond ourselves, Eternally fulfilled."
When the Israelites were freed from the Egyptians, and saw the mana for the first time they asked themselves: "what is this?" (Ex 16:15). They were hungry. We are hungry. There is a famine in this world for the Bread of Life that came down from Heaven. Jesus is our provision for the road. We hunger for something beyond to what this world has to offer.
Jesus give us Your Bread for the road.
God bless y'all!
Sources:
https://www.usccb.org/committees/clergy-consecrated-life-vocations/preaching-resources/bread-of-life
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