Gospel Reflection for August 8th : 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time By Br Michael Moore OMI
Jesus nourishes and strengthen us
Our readings this Sunday continue the message that we were offered last week; that of food and Jesus being the Bread of Life. In the first reading from the Book of Kings, Elijah is in the desert. He is tired, sore and hungry. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘I have had enough. Take my life.’ While sitting in the shade of a tree an angel appears and tells him to get up and eat. Looking around he finds fresh bread and water. ‘So, he got up, ate and drank and strengthened by the food he continued on his journey.’ This symbol and message of food is continued in the gospel.
Last Sunday, Jesus proclaimed clearly that he was the Bread of Life. Not for the first nor the last time, some people complain about Jesus and cannot accept his message. They cannot understand or accept Jesus when he says that he is the bread of life that has come down from heaven. He likens himself to the manna that their ancestors ate. This is just too much for them. This new teaching challenges and disturbs all their ancient traditions and rituals. They remain stuck, looking to Jesus for a constant supply of material bread. They saw the manna from heaven as God’s direct intervention and protection. Now Jesus is clearly seeing that he himself is God’s new manna – the bread of life that has come down from heaven. They question both his origins and his message; ‘Surely this is Jesus the Son of Joseph, they said. How can he now say, “I have come down from heaven”?
While Jesus is challenging the crowd, he also trying to teach and encourage them, as he is us today. Despite their objections and rejections, Jesus does not compromise or water down his message, in fact he becomes even more direct with them. He tells them that no one has seen God except the who comes from God – Jesus himself. He continues, ‘everybody who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life; I am the bread of life which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh for the life of the world.’
Today we are offered so much convenient and fast food. We are able buy food that can be cooked in an instant and eaten just as quickly. We can buy food prepared specifically just for one person. There are so many fast-food restaurants around us today. But this not what Jesus is talking about or offering us. Jesus is freely offering us food for the journey of our lives, not fast food that will be short lived that will not satisfy our deepest needs.
There are times in our own daily lives that perhaps we feel like Elijah from the first reading. For many of us this last year has been draining and difficult. Perhaps at times it felt like we were in the desert. We often find the journey of our lives tiring and demanding. Yet God did not abandon Elijah. He strengthened and nourished him with bread and water. After he had eaten, ‘he got up, ate and drank, and strengthened by the food he continued on his journey.’
God has not and will never abandon us. Through Jesus, God is offering us so much more than bread and water. We are being offered the gift of eternal life; I am the bread of life which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh for the life of the world.’
Br Michael Moore OMI
As we welcome and receive the Bread of Life, we are strengthened just as Elijah was so we too can continue our daily journey through life.
-Br Michael Moore OMI
| Gospel Sunday August 8th | John 6:41-5 © |
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