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August 1, 2021In this Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time we hear from the Gospel of John, chapter 6, verses 24-35, where the followers of Jesus are “hungry” again because they have recently misinterpreted the meaning of His last miracle, the feeding of the 5,000 with a few fish and some bread.
There they were focused on the food or the “menu” of the meal and the amount of the food present—they were, if you will, foodies. Yes, it was amazing! But, at best, they recalled the bread from Heaven that though Moses was provided for them, but in reality it was a gift of food from God and not from Moses, he was the conduit which God made the bread available to them. But in the end, they failed to hear the real message in the Lord’s miracle as they “stuffed their faces.” The real message of that miracle was the coming together and the building of a deeper relationship with Christ. Thus the message in our gospel today.
Today’s gospel asks us to consider the depth of our relationship with Christ. Not to focus on the menu or the meal itself—the abundance of food, but on the reason for gathering together in the first place. In a similar way, why do we gather together as family on Thanksgiving Day or at a family summertime celebration—sure the food is important but the true meaning of the gathering is to deepen the familial relationships, to grow the family if you will. It is about the “Why are we coming to the table”—or more succinctly put from a faith perspective, why are we coming to the altar of the Lord for the Eucharistic meal? In reality, the purpose of the Eucharistic meal is for each of us—and all of us as a Church family—to enter into a deeper, more personal relationship with the Christ. Since sharing a meal is an important part of human life, we come together and enjoy the food but of greater import we spend together with family and friends so that we enter into a deeper relationship with one another—so to strengthen the family and the community; in today’s gospel we hear about the strengthening the relationship each one of us should have with the Lord. Why do we come to the Eucharist? What are our deepest hungers? Jesus wants us to consider this—and then to move along in the building up of that relationship with Him so that we share in the Divine Life of God.
This requires action or work to come to an understanding the of meaning and purpose of the Eucharist? Do we believe in the Real Presence, and I mean the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in that Bread of Life? The level of our belief can be found in the depth of the practice of our faith. When we truly believe that God loves us, that He created us in His Image and Likeness, then we must live in a certain—actually a very specific way—to be forgiving and to seek forgiveness; we must see Christ in others, we must have in our hearts concern for the hungry, poor and homeless—even to educate in faith the ignorant rather than just let them believe what they
believe since that does them, in actuality, no good for eternal life.
As we all approach the altar this Sunday and every Sunday, let us contemplate that which we are receiving from the Church: The Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, the Real Presence of Christ, a share in the Divine Life of God. If I truly believe that, then how will I change in my life so that what I say and do reflects He whom I have just consumed?
At Baptism we were given a share in the Divine Life of God. In Confirmation it was confirmed by the granting of the fullness of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit. In the other Sacraments of the Church—given to us by Christ Himself—I am protected, strengthened and called to be like Him in all that I do and say. Because the greatest of all those gifts are awaiting me: Eternal Life in complete and utter Joy. Will I come, follow Him?
John’s Gospel, which is the high Christology of Jesus the Christ—who He is—invites us into a deeper relationship with the Word made flesh, God Himself. Come, gather at His table and enjoy the food and the relationship that He so much desires to have with You. After all, you are not some thing but someOne, with Him.
