Nineteenth Sunday of the Year
GOOD NEWS
THEME: A DREAM COME TRUE.
One of the most remarkable things Jesus said about eternal life is what he says in today’s Gospel…” I am the bread of life. If anyone eats this bread, he will live forever. The bread that I will give is my flesh, which I give so that the world may live.”
Is it any wonder that many Jews shook their heads at Jesus at the words “bread from heaven.” … any wonder that they grumbled, saying “Is this not the son of Joseph? How can he claim to have come down from heaven?” Only when Jesus rose from the dead did many of these same Jews believe in him.
Today we have come to hear the word of Jesus about eternal life and to be nourished by the Body of Jesus, the bread of eternal life. Jesus Christ, Son of God, fountain of eternal life, is present with us right now. He is with us when he said to his disciples ”whoever listens to you listens to me.”
Jesus is with us in his word. What he said 2000 years ago to the people is what he has said in today’s gospel. He is with us in his representative, the priest when he said to his disciples “whoever listens to you listens to me.”
Jesus is with us in the Sacrament of eternal life when he promised “If anyone eats this bread, he will live forever.”
Considering this, is it any wonder that Jesus said to us: “How fortunate you are to see the things you see. I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see, but they could not, to hear what you hear, but they did not.”
We must pray for the faith to recognize the voice of Christ in the words we hear and their meaning as explained to us. Above all, we must pray for the faith to recognize Christ in the bread we bralk and share today.
(Mark Link, SJ)
THOUGHT FOR TODAY: Hungry people should never deprive themselves of bread.
Let us show reverence to God by wearing the proper attire in the church (Mt:22.12)