Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
We are in the third week of the five-week-series on the Bread of Life discourse. We began two weeks back with the multiplication of loaves. Last week, Jesus invited people to transcend the barley loaves and “work for the bread that endures up to eternal life” (Jn 6:27) - the Bread of Life.” In today’s gospel reading, there is yet another transition – from Bread of life to “flesh”. Jesus says, “…the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world” (Jn 6:51).
Today, I would like to reflect on this transition from bread to “flesh.” Here are my three points.
Holiness is to Act like God Does
Once again, we must begin with the first reading. All the first readings since we began our reflection on the bread of life discourse have been about hunger and bread. Two weeks back we heard about Elisha miraculously multiplying loaves during a famine. Last week we heard God miraculously providing manna for the hungry people in the desert. In today’s first reading we hear about Elijah who was hungry, thirsty, fear-filled and despondent as he fled through the desert to escape the wrath of Jezebel who sought to kill him. But again, as in the last two weeks, there was miraculous food. Twice an angel of God brought Elijah bread and water. The physical nourishment was only the beginning of Elijah’s spiritual rejuvenation and renewal. It gave him hope, strength, and new life. In each of the three stories, food did not just satisfy people’s hunger. It gave them hope. It gave them dignity. It gave them a sense of security. It became a way for them to experience divine presence.
The first lesson we learn is that hunger is not only about food. Hunger represents the many needs of humanity and bread represents the fulfilling of the many human needs. Some hunger for security while others thirst for refuge from violence and war. Some search for freedom while others look for dignity. Some simply seek employment while seek an opportunity to flourish. As Christians we must be sensitive to the various needs of humanity.
There is yet another lesson. Providing for humanity’s various needs is an integral part of holiness. As we see how God provided for the needs of the hungry, the greater lesson we learn is that when we make it possible for other human beings to fulfil their basic human needs; when we to work to allow people to have dignity, security, and hope; when we treat the hungry with love and care, we act like God does. And this is part of holiness. Holiness is to act like God does.
Food for the Soul
Now we must transition from hunger and bread to the Bread of Life. We heard last week that Jesus invited the crowds “to work for the bread that endures up to eternal life.” In these words, Jesus was drawing our attention to the other significant aspect of human existence – the spiritual hunger.
To understand this, I would like to draw on the spirituality of John of the Cross. John of the Cross pays great attention to the appetite of the soul. Just as the body has appetite, the soul also has it’s appetite. At baptism our soul is filled with the grace of God and the soul is delighted. But as we grow up, we get busy with life and providing for our basic necessities. In the process, there is a possibility that the appetite of our soul gets ignored.
What does the soul hunger for? The soul’s hunger is for divine presence. Most of all, the soul seeks union with God. It is our task to make sure that our soul is never hungry. “The food that endures up to eternal life” that Jesus talks about is the food that feeds the soul. For us, prayer, reflecting on God’s word, spiritual reading, the Sacraments, silence, solitude, and contemplation are critical food and drink for the soul.
This week, let us examine our spiritual life. The question is whether our soul is being well nourished by us.
Bread of Life to Flesh
But we must make one more transition today – from Bread of Life to “flesh.” Once again, the spirituality of John of the Cross can help us. As I said earlier, the greatest hunger of the soul is total union with God. Nothing satisfies the soul like being one with the divine. Just as Jesus provided bread and fish forhungry people, Jesus also provides the way for the soul and God to be one. He becomes the Bread of Life. He is no ordinary bread. As Jesus says in today’s gospel, “… the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."
The Catholic belief that bread and wine in the Eucharist are the Body and Blood of Christ is not some Catholic invention. At the Last Supper, Jesus took bread, gave it to his disciples, and said, “This is my body.” And then he took the cup filled with wine and said, “This is my blood.” It looked like bread and wine, but it was Jesus. And then Jesus broke his body and shed his blood on the cross and died for the world. Thus, Jesus became “flesh for the life of the world.”
At every Eucharist, Jesus once more gives food for our hungry souls. As we enter into communion with the Body and Blood of Christ, the soul’s hunger to be one with the divine is also fulfilled. It is what we call it – Communion. But in this Communion, Jesus also gives us dignity, hope, and life. He fulfills our hunger - body and soul.
As we celebrate this Eucharist, let us prepare ourselves for the Communion that leads us to eternal life. As Jesus says, “…the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” Amen.
- Fr. Satish Joseph
