Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 113
Lectionary: 113
The whole Israelite
community grumbled against Moses and Aaron.
The Israelites said to them,
“Would that we had died at the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt,
as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread!
But you had to lead us into this desert
to make the whole community die of famine!”
Then the LORD said to Moses,
“I will now rain down bread from heaven for you.
Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily portion;
thus will I test them,
to see whether they follow my instructions or not.
“I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites.
Tell them: In the evening twilight you shall eat flesh,
and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread,
so that you may know that I, the LORD, am your God.”
In the evening quail came up and covered the camp.
In the morning a dew lay all about the camp,
and when the dew evaporated, there on the surface of the desert
were fine flakes like hoarfrost on the ground.
On seeing it, the Israelites asked one another, “What is this?”
for they did not know what it was.
But Moses told them,
“This is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat.”
The Israelites said to them,
“Would that we had died at the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt,
as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread!
But you had to lead us into this desert
to make the whole community die of famine!”
Then the LORD said to Moses,
“I will now rain down bread from heaven for you.
Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily portion;
thus will I test them,
to see whether they follow my instructions or not.
“I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites.
Tell them: In the evening twilight you shall eat flesh,
and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread,
so that you may know that I, the LORD, am your God.”
In the evening quail came up and covered the camp.
In the morning a dew lay all about the camp,
and when the dew evaporated, there on the surface of the desert
were fine flakes like hoarfrost on the ground.
On seeing it, the Israelites asked one another, “What is this?”
for they did not know what it was.
But Moses told them,
“This is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat.”
Responsorial PsalmPS 78:3-4, 23-24, 25, 54
R. (24b) The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
What we have heard and know,
and what our fathers have declared to us,
We will declare to the generation to come
the glorious deeds of the LORD and his strength
and the wonders that he wrought.
R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
He commanded the skies above
and opened the doors of heaven;
he rained manna upon them for food
and gave them heavenly bread.
R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
Man ate the bread of angels,
food he sent them in abundance.
And he brought them to his holy land,
to the mountains his right hand had won.
R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
What we have heard and know,
and what our fathers have declared to us,
We will declare to the generation to come
the glorious deeds of the LORD and his strength
and the wonders that he wrought.
R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
He commanded the skies above
and opened the doors of heaven;
he rained manna upon them for food
and gave them heavenly bread.
R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
Man ate the bread of angels,
food he sent them in abundance.
And he brought them to his holy land,
to the mountains his right hand had won.
R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
Reading 2EPH 4:17, 20-24
Brothers and
sisters:
I declare and testify in the Lord
that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do,
in the futility of their minds;
that is not how you learned Christ,
assuming that you have heard of him and were taught in him,
as truth is in Jesus,
that you should put away the old self of your former way of life,
corrupted through deceitful desires,
and be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
and put on the new self,
created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth.
I declare and testify in the Lord
that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do,
in the futility of their minds;
that is not how you learned Christ,
assuming that you have heard of him and were taught in him,
as truth is in Jesus,
that you should put away the old self of your former way of life,
corrupted through deceitful desires,
and be renewed in the spirit of your minds,
and put on the new self,
created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth.
AlleluiaMT 4:4B
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
One does not live on bread alone, but by every
word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
One does not live on bread alone, but by every
word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelJN 6:24-35
When the crowd saw
that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there,
they themselves got into boats
and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
And when they found him across the sea they said to him,
“Rabbi, when did you get here?”
Jesus answered them and said,
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
you are looking for me not because you saw signs
but because you ate the loaves and were filled.
Do not work for food that perishes
but for the food that endures for eternal life,
which the Son of Man will give you.
For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.”
So they said to him,
“What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”
Jesus answered and said to them,
“This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”
So they said to him,
“What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you?
What can you do?
Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written:
He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”
So Jesus said to them,
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven;
my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world.”
So they said to him,
“Sir, give us this bread always.”
Jesus said to them,
“I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
they themselves got into boats
and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.
And when they found him across the sea they said to him,
“Rabbi, when did you get here?”
Jesus answered them and said,
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
you are looking for me not because you saw signs
but because you ate the loaves and were filled.
Do not work for food that perishes
but for the food that endures for eternal life,
which the Son of Man will give you.
For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.”
So they said to him,
“What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”
Jesus answered and said to them,
“This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”
So they said to him,
“What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you?
What can you do?
Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written:
He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”
So Jesus said to them,
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven;
my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world.”
So they said to him,
“Sir, give us this bread always.”
Jesus said to them,
“I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
Scripture Study, Aug.
2, 2015
August 2, 2015 Eighteenth
Sunday In Ordinary Time
This Sunday we celebrate the Eighteenth Sunday
of Ordinary Time. The first and last readings this week utilize the symbolism
of bread to tell us that God wants to feed us and to care for us on the many
levels of our existence. God has reached out to do this through His Son Jesus,
the Christ. Paul, in the second reading, reminds us that Christianity is about
a person; Jesus is at the center. When we accept Him we also accept all the
values that He stands for. Christianity is not primarily about doctrine; it is
first and foremost a person-to-person relationship with Jesus. This Sunday, I
ask myself how serious am I about this relationship? How completely have I put
on Christ so that I can be the new me that Christ calls me to be? Do I see the
signs in Christ’s actions in my life or am I like the crowd in the Gospel that
can’t see past the loaves?
First Reading: Exodus 16: 2-4, 12-15
2 Here in the desert the whole Israelite community grumbled
against Moses and Aaron. 3 The Israelites
said to them, “Would that we had died at the LORD’S hand in the land of Egypt,
as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread! But you had to lead us
into this desert to make the whole community die of famine!”
4 Then the LORD said to Moses, “I will now rain down bread
from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily
portion; thus will I test them, to see whether they follow my instructions or
not.
12 “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them:
In the evening twilight you shall eat flesh, and in the morning you shall have
your fill of bread, so that you may know that I, the LORD, am your God.”
13 In the evening quail came up and covered the camp. In the
morning a dew lay all about the camp, 14 and when the dew
evaporated, there on the surface of the desert were fine flakes like hoarfrost
on the ground. 15 On seeing it, the Israelites asked one
another, “What is this?” for they did not know what it was. But Moses told
them, “This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.
NOTES on First Reading:
* 16:2-36 This account focuses on the
phenomenon of the manna and the quail as responses of God to the needs of His
people and on the responses of the people to the provision given them by God.
Most of this section is from the hand of the Priestly writer who is interested
in the “spiritual” significance of the events. Verses 17-21 stress both that
the provision is adequate but also new each day and vv 22-26 connect the manna
and the Sabbath.
It is likely that originally this story sprang
from the tradition of God’s gracious care of His people in the desert. At the
arrival of God’s Glory in v 10-11 Yahweh assures the people that their needs
will be met instead of meting out punishment for their rebellion of vv. 2 and
7. See Ps 105:40.
During and after the Exile the Priestly (P)
writers were searching for an explanation of the disaster that had occurred and
stressed the rebellion theme by expressing it as a death wish in v 3. At this
level the real problem and rebellion is not in hunger pangs but in theological
despair. The people are refusing to acknowledge that God can do what He sets
out to do. The rejection of what God has already done is what Moses and Aaron
are addressing in v 6.
*16:4 Bread from heaven: as a gift from God,
the manna is said to come down from the sky. Psalm 78:25; Wisdom 16:20. Perhaps
it was similar to a natural substance that is still found in small quantities
on the Sinai peninsula ( a secretion of two insects that live on the tamarisk
tree), but here it is, at least in part, clearly intended to be taken as
miraculous. Our Lord referred to the manna as a type of the Blessed Eucharist.
John 6:32, 49-52.
* 16:6-8 There is some confusion here. V 6
& 7 are repeated in v 8 & 12. Vv 6 &7 are ominous and probably
indicate that at one time this story included the death of some of the people.
See Num 11:31-34.
* 16:15 The ancient versions render the
original “man hu” as “What is this”. The phrase is understood as a popular
etymology of the Hebrew word “manna”; some read it, “This is manna.”
Second Reading: Ephesians 4: 17, 20-24
17 So I declare and testify in the Lord that you must no
longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds; [18darkened in understanding, alienated from the life of God
because of their ignorance, because of their hardness of heart,19 they have become callous and have handed themselves over
to licentiousness for the practice of every kind of impurity to excess.] 20 That is not how you learned Christ, 21 assuming that you have heard of him and were taught in
him, as truth is in Jesus, 22 that you should
put away the old self of your former way of life, corrupted through deceitful
desires, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your
minds, 24 and put on the new self, created in
God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth.
NOTES on Second Reading:
* 4:17 This verse begins a section ending at
5:20 that contrasts the ungodly ways of the Gentiles to the way of life implied
by membership in the Body of Christ. The admonitions are generally traditional
and are usually stated as imperatives to avoid certain behaviors and actions.
Verses 17-19 present a fairly common Jewish view of pagan morals and life.
* 4:18-19 Verses 18-19 are left out of the reading.
I include them here only for completeness since they are short.
* 4:20 This verse marks the shift from the
description of the ways of the Gentiles to the way of life of a follower of
Jesus.
* 4:22-24 Paul uses baptismal language to
exhort the reader to live as would be fitting to the new humanity that is found
in the believer. The words translated as “new self” and “old self” literally
mean “old man” and “new man”. This language is also found in Gal 3:27; Rom
13:14; Col 3:10 Similar language is also found in the Old Testament (Job 29:14;
Isa 59: 17)
Gospel Reading: John 6: 24-35
24 When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples
were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for
Jesus. 25 And when they found him across the sea
they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” 26 Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you,
you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves
and were filled. 27 Do not work for food that perishes but
for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.
For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.” 28 So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the
works of God?” 29 Jesus answered and said to them, “This
is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.” 30 So they said to him, “What sign can you do, that we may
see and believe in you? What can you do? 31 Our ancestors
ate manna in the desert, as it is written:
‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'”
32 So Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, it was
not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread
from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes
down from heaven and gives life to the world.”
34 So they said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” 35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes
to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.
NOTES on Gospel Reading:
* 6:25 The crowd’s question is ignored and
never addressed. The geography as indicated by verses 24 and 25 is a bit
baffling. Capernaum is not across the sea but on the north shore just a bit
west of Tiberias. This may indicate a lack of geographical familiarity with the
area. Some have suggested that the link between Tiberias and the feeding
miracle (6:24) was the result of later editing rather than part of the original
story.
* 6:26 Jesus draws a distinction between
seeing signs and simply experiencing the miracle. While the crowd saw the
miracle they failed to recognize the sign.
* 6:27 Here Jesus seems to be reminding us of
His statement about “living water” and looking forward to His statement about
Himself as “bread of life”(4:14, 6:35). In both images, the key to receiving
the gift of Jesus is faith that He is the one sent from God. This would
indicate that this verse, although it has eucharistic undertones is not
primarily referring to the Holy Eucharist but to Jesus’ word of revelation or
to Jesus, Himself, as expressed at the end of the verse: “For on him the
Father, God, has set his seal.” This also echoes verse 3:33,which says, in the
words of the Revised Standard Version(RSV): “he who receives his testimony sets
his seal to this, that God is true.” John emphasizes that it is God who affirms
the role of Jesus.
* 6:28-29 The “works of God” may refer to what
God does and requires. Jesus speaks of Himself as “doing the works of the One
Who sent Him” (9:4). In v 29, Jesus says that only one “work” is needed and
that is believing in the One sent by God.
* 6:30-31 The request from the crowd for a
sign seems to indicate that they understand that Jesus is making a claim for
Himself. At the same time, verse 30 reminds the reader that Jesus has just
said, in verse 26, that they did not see the sign even though they ate the
loaves. The crowd challenges Jesus by referring to Exodus 16:4-5 although
John’s citation actually combines Exodus 16:4-5, Psalm 78:24.
Later Jewish writings indicate that there was
an expectation that manna would again be provided in the eschatological age.
Thus the people may have thought that the miracle of the loaves was a prelude
to a greater event in which they expected that Jesus would be the new provider
of manna as Moses was in the old days of the ancestors.
* 6:32 Jesus restates and corrects the crowd’s
statement in three important respects: not Moses, but “My Father,” not gave,
but “gives,” not manna but the “true bread (alethinos) from heaven.”
Jesus then (verse 33) defines this true bread
from heaven as: “that which (or he who) comes down from heaven and gives life
to the world.” (See also 3:15-16, 5:24).
*6:34-35 Here the crowd’s request parallels
the request of the Samaritan woman (4:14) and it is met with the same
affirmation that looks back to the image of the water as well as engaging the
present image of bread: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never
hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” Note the shift from
“bread from heaven” to “bread of God” and finally to “bread of life”.
Meditation: "Lord, give us this bread always"
Is there anything in this life that can truly satisfy our
deepest hunger and longing? Many sought Jesus out because he offered them something
no one else could give - bread from heaven from the very hand of God himself.
When Jesus had performed the miracle of multiplying five loaves of bread and
two fish to provide a refreshing and satisfying meal for more than 5000 people
(see John 6:1-15), they wanted to make him their king - no doubt because they
wanted more. When Jesus withdrew from the crowd and quietly returned to
Capernaum to be with his twelve disciples, they ran to seek him there (John
6:24-25). Jesus met them with a probing question - are you looking for physical
food that perishes or food that gives eternal life?
Satisfying the hunger for truth, life, and love
Jesus' question to the crowd, and to each one of us as well, echoes the words of the prophet Isaiah: "Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy" (Isaiah 55:2)? There are two fundamental types of hunger - physical and spiritual. Only the Lord Jesus can satisfy the hunger in our heart - the hunger for truth, life, and love. Jesus alone can satisfy our hunger for truth - because in him alone is the Truth which is found in God. Jesus alone can satisfy our hunger for life - because he alone can give us abundant life - the supernatural life of God which transforms us now and lasts forever. Jesus alone can satisfy our deepest hunger for love - the love of God that knows no end, that never fails nor forsakes us, that outlasts sin and death. Jesus alone can satisfy the eternal hunger of our heart, mind, and spirit.
Jesus' question to the crowd, and to each one of us as well, echoes the words of the prophet Isaiah: "Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy" (Isaiah 55:2)? There are two fundamental types of hunger - physical and spiritual. Only the Lord Jesus can satisfy the hunger in our heart - the hunger for truth, life, and love. Jesus alone can satisfy our hunger for truth - because in him alone is the Truth which is found in God. Jesus alone can satisfy our hunger for life - because he alone can give us abundant life - the supernatural life of God which transforms us now and lasts forever. Jesus alone can satisfy our deepest hunger for love - the love of God that knows no end, that never fails nor forsakes us, that outlasts sin and death. Jesus alone can satisfy the eternal hunger of our heart, mind, and spirit.
Theresa of Avila's prayer book contained a bookmark which she
wrote: Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you; All things
pass: God never changes. Patience achieves all it strives for. Whoever
has God lacks nothing, God alone suffices. Is God enough for you?
Doing the works of God
Jesus also spoke about the works of God and what we must do to be doing the works of God, namely to believe in God's Son whom he has sent into the world. The Lord Jesus offers a new relationship with God which issues in a new kind of life - a life of sacrificial love, selfless service, and the forgiveness of others which corresponds to God's mercy, goodness and loving kindness; a life of holiness, purity, and truth which corresponds to God's holiness; and a life of obedience and trust which corresponds to God's offer of abundant life, peace, and happiness. This is the work which Jesus directs us to and enables us to perform in the power of the Holy Spirit. Do you hunger for the bread which comes down from heaven and thirst for the words of everlasting life?
Jesus also spoke about the works of God and what we must do to be doing the works of God, namely to believe in God's Son whom he has sent into the world. The Lord Jesus offers a new relationship with God which issues in a new kind of life - a life of sacrificial love, selfless service, and the forgiveness of others which corresponds to God's mercy, goodness and loving kindness; a life of holiness, purity, and truth which corresponds to God's holiness; and a life of obedience and trust which corresponds to God's offer of abundant life, peace, and happiness. This is the work which Jesus directs us to and enables us to perform in the power of the Holy Spirit. Do you hunger for the bread which comes down from heaven and thirst for the words of everlasting life?
"Lord Jesus, you are the true Bread of Heaven. Only you
alone can truly satisfy the deepest longing and hunger of my heart. Nourish me
with the bread of life that I may be truly satisfied in you alone as the giver
of life."
EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, JOHN 6:24-35
(Exodus 16:2-4,12-15; Psalm 78; Ephesians 4:17, 20-24)
SUNDAY, AUGUST 2, JOHN 6:24-35
(Exodus 16:2-4,12-15; Psalm 78; Ephesians 4:17, 20-24)
KEY VERSE: "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst" ( v 35).
TO KNOW: After the miraculous multiplication of the loaves the people went in search of Jesus. He told them that they were looking for perishable food and were missing the true nourishment that God had given them. Like the living water "welling up to eternal life" (4:14), Jesus provided food that "endures for eternal life" (6:27). The people did not need to work for this food; they only needed to believe in the one God sent to them. The people demanded a "sign" such as the manna that Moses gave them in the desert (Ex.16:15). Jesus was himself the sign, the true expression of God's providential presence. Jesus is the bread of everlasting life who satisfies the spiritual hunger of the soul.
TO LOVE: How can I help others see your presence in the Eucharist?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to hunger and thirst for you always.
Sunday 2 August 2015
SUN 2ND.
18th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Exodus
16:2-4, 12-15. The Lord gave them bread from heaven—Ps
777(78):3-4, 23-25, 54. Ephesians 4:17, 20-24. John 6:24-35. [St Eusebius of
Vercelli, St Peter Julian Eymard].
Readings
They gave
the bread to all who were sitting down ...
Too many
people wake each day desperate for food and water, and experience despair when
crops fail, livestock starve or disease or war tear communities apart.
Communities obviously thrive and children grow when wholesome nutritious food
is available.
As living
creatures, we draw comfort and energy from food, which, once eaten becomes part
of our body. So too do we draw energy and grow strong when we share in God’s
food—the Bread of Life manifest in his Son, Jesus. The bread broken and shared
becomes part of our very being.
When we
focus only on addressing our physical need for sustenance, we risk missing out
on the food that our soul hungers for, the food that gives eternal sustenance.
Christ within us, be our food, nourish us.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
|
Personal Sacrifice
|
In a world that encourages us to take all we can for ourselves,
sacrifice is often seen as a distasteful and negative word. Yet, if we want to
help the poor, we must embrace some personal sacrifice.
August
2
St. Eusebius of Vercelli
(283?-371)
St. Eusebius of Vercelli
(283?-371)
Someone has said that if there had been no Arian heresy denying
Christ's divinity, it would be very difficult to write the lives of many early
saints. Eusebius is another of the defenders of the Church during one of its
most trying periods.
Born on
the isle of Sardinia, he became a member of the Roman clergy and is the first
recorded bishop of Vercelli in Piedmont in northwest Italy. He is also the
first to link the monastic life with that of the clergy, establishing a
community of his diocesan clergy on the principle that the best way to sanctify
his people was to have them see a clergy formed in solid virtue and living in
community.
He was
sent by Pope Liberius to persuade the emperor to call a council to settle
Catholic-Arian troubles. When it was called at Milan, Eusebius went
reluctantly, sensing that the Arian block would have its way, although the
Catholics were more numerous. He refused to go along with the condemnation of
St. Athanasius; instead, he laid the Nicene Creed on the table and insisted
that all sign it before taking up any other matter. The emperor put pressure on
him, but Eusebius insisted on Athanasius’ innocence and reminded the emperor
that secular force should not be used to influence Church decisions. At first
the emperor threatened to kill him, but later sent him into exile in Palestine.
There the Arians dragged him through the streets and shut him up in a little
room, releasing him only after his four-day hunger strike. They resumed their
harassment shortly after.
His exile
continued in Asia Minor and Egypt, until the new emperor permitted him to be
welcomed back to his see in Vercelli. He attended the Council of Alexandria
with Athanasius and approved the leniency shown to bishops who had wavered. He
also worked with St. Hilary of Poitiers against the Arians.
He died
peacefully in his own diocese at an advanced age.
Comment:
Catholics in the U.S. have sometimes felt penalized by an unwarranted interpretation of the principle of separation of Church and state, especially in the matter of Catholic schools. Be that as it may, the Church is happily free today from the tremendous pressure put on it after it became an “established” Church under Constantine. We are happily rid of such things as a pope asking an emperor to call a Church council, Pope John I being sent by the emperor to negotiate in the East, the pressure of kings on papal elections. The Church cannot be a prophet if it’s in someone’s pocket.
Catholics in the U.S. have sometimes felt penalized by an unwarranted interpretation of the principle of separation of Church and state, especially in the matter of Catholic schools. Be that as it may, the Church is happily free today from the tremendous pressure put on it after it became an “established” Church under Constantine. We are happily rid of such things as a pope asking an emperor to call a Church council, Pope John I being sent by the emperor to negotiate in the East, the pressure of kings on papal elections. The Church cannot be a prophet if it’s in someone’s pocket.
Quote:
"To render the care of souls more efficacious, community life for priests is strongly recommended, especially for those attached to the same parish. While this way of living encourages apostolic action, it also affords an example of charity and unity to the faithful" (Vatican II, Decree on the Bishops' Pastoral Office, 30).
"To render the care of souls more efficacious, community life for priests is strongly recommended, especially for those attached to the same parish. While this way of living encourages apostolic action, it also affords an example of charity and unity to the faithful" (Vatican II, Decree on the Bishops' Pastoral Office, 30).
LECTIO: 18TH
SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME (B)
Lectio:
Sunday, August 2, 2015
Jesus the bread of life.
1. Opening prayer
Lord Jesus, send your Spirit to help us to read the Scriptures
with the same mind that you read them to the disciples on the way to Emmaus. In
the light of the Word, written in the Bible, you helped them to discover the
presence of God in the disturbing events of your sentence and death. Thus, the
cross that seemed to be the end of all hope became for them the source of life
and of resurrection.
Create in us silence so that we may listen to your voice in Creation and in the Scriptures, in events and in people, above all in the poor and suffering. May your word guide us so that we too, like the two disciples from Emmaus, may experience the force of your resurrection and witness to others that you are alive in our midst as source of fraternity, justice and peace. We ask this of you, Jesus, son of Mary, who revealed to us the Father and sent us your Spirit. Amen.
2. Reading
a) A key to the reading:
The Discourse of the Bread of Life is not a text to be discussed and dissected, but rather it should be meditated and pondered. This is why, even if it is not fully understood, we should not be concerned. This text of the Bread of Life demands a whole life to meditate on it and deepen it. Such a text, people have to read it, meditate it, pray it, think about it, read it again, repeat it and ponder it, as one does with a good sweet in the mouth. We turn it and turn it in the mouth until it is finished. The one, who reads the Fourth Gospel superficially, may have the impression that John always repeats the same thing. Reading it more attentively, one becomes aware that it is not a question of repetition. The author of the fourth Gospel has his own way of repeating the same theme, but always at a higher and more profound level. It seems to be like a winding staircase. By turning one reaches the same place, but always at a higher level or a more profound one.
b) A division of chapter six:
It is good to keep in mind the division of the chapter in order to understand better its significance:
John 6,1-15: the great multiplication of the loaves
John 6,16-21: the crossing of the lake, and Jesus who walks on the water
John 6,22-71: the dialogue of Jesus with the people, with the Jews and with the disciples
1st dialogue: 6, 22-27 with the people: the people seek Jesus and find him in Capernaum
2nd dialogue: 6, 28-34 with the people: faith as the work of God and the manna of the desert
3rd dialogue: 6, 35-40 with the people: the true bread is to do God’s will.
4th dialogue: 6, 41-51 with the Jews: the complaining of the Jews
5th dialogue: 6, 52-58 with the Jews: Jesus and the Jews.
6th dialogue: 6, 59-66 with the disciples: reaction of the disciples
7th dialogue: 6, 67-71 with the disciples: confession of Peter
c) The text: John 6,24-35
Create in us silence so that we may listen to your voice in Creation and in the Scriptures, in events and in people, above all in the poor and suffering. May your word guide us so that we too, like the two disciples from Emmaus, may experience the force of your resurrection and witness to others that you are alive in our midst as source of fraternity, justice and peace. We ask this of you, Jesus, son of Mary, who revealed to us the Father and sent us your Spirit. Amen.
2. Reading
a) A key to the reading:
The Discourse of the Bread of Life is not a text to be discussed and dissected, but rather it should be meditated and pondered. This is why, even if it is not fully understood, we should not be concerned. This text of the Bread of Life demands a whole life to meditate on it and deepen it. Such a text, people have to read it, meditate it, pray it, think about it, read it again, repeat it and ponder it, as one does with a good sweet in the mouth. We turn it and turn it in the mouth until it is finished. The one, who reads the Fourth Gospel superficially, may have the impression that John always repeats the same thing. Reading it more attentively, one becomes aware that it is not a question of repetition. The author of the fourth Gospel has his own way of repeating the same theme, but always at a higher and more profound level. It seems to be like a winding staircase. By turning one reaches the same place, but always at a higher level or a more profound one.
b) A division of chapter six:
It is good to keep in mind the division of the chapter in order to understand better its significance:
John 6,1-15: the great multiplication of the loaves
John 6,16-21: the crossing of the lake, and Jesus who walks on the water
John 6,22-71: the dialogue of Jesus with the people, with the Jews and with the disciples
1st dialogue: 6, 22-27 with the people: the people seek Jesus and find him in Capernaum
2nd dialogue: 6, 28-34 with the people: faith as the work of God and the manna of the desert
3rd dialogue: 6, 35-40 with the people: the true bread is to do God’s will.
4th dialogue: 6, 41-51 with the Jews: the complaining of the Jews
5th dialogue: 6, 52-58 with the Jews: Jesus and the Jews.
6th dialogue: 6, 59-66 with the disciples: reaction of the disciples
7th dialogue: 6, 67-71 with the disciples: confession of Peter
c) The text: John 6,24-35
When the people saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were
there, they got into those boats and crossed to Capernaum to look for Jesus.
When they found him on the other side, they said to him, 'Rabbi, when did you
come here?'
Jesus answered: In all truth I tell you, you are looking for me not because you have seen the signs but because you had all the bread you wanted to eat. Do not work for food that goes bad, but work for food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of man will give you, for on him the Father, God himself, has set his seal.
Then they said to him, 'What must we do if we are to carry out God's work?' Jesus gave them this answer, 'This is carrying out God's work: you must believe in the one he has sent.'
So they said, 'What sign will you yourself do, the sight of which will make us believe in you? What work will you do? Our fathers ate manna in the desert; as scripture says: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'
Jesus answered them: In all truth I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, it is my Father who gives you the bread from heaven, the true bread; for the bread of God is the bread which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.
'Sir,' they said, 'give us that bread always.' Jesus answered them: I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever hunger; no one who believes in me will ever thirst.
3. A moment of prayerful silence
so that the Word of God may penetrate and enlighten our life.
4. Some questions
to help us in our personal reflection.
a) The people were hungry, they eat the bread and they look for more bread. They seek the miracle and do not seek the sign of God who was hidden in that. What do I seek more in my life: the miracle or the sign?
b) Hungry for bread, hungry for God. Which of these two predominates in me?
c) Jesus says: “I am the bread of life”. He takes away hunger and thirst. Which of these experiences do I have in my life?
d) Keep silence within you for a moment and ask yourself: “To believe in Jesus: What does this mean for me concretely in my daily life?”
5. For those who wish to deepen more into the theme
a) Context:
In today’s Gospel we begin the Discourse on the Bread of Life (Jn 6, 22-71). After the multiplication of the loaves, the people follow Jesus. They had seen the miracle; they had eaten and were satiated and wanted more! They were not concerned about looking for the sign or the call of God that was contained in all of this. When the people found Jesus in the Synagogue of Capernaum, he had a long conversation with them, called the Discourse of the Bread of Life. It is not really a Discourse, but it treats of a series of seven brief dialogues which explain the meaning of the multiplication of the bread, symbol of the new Exodus and of the Eucharistic Supper.
The conversation of Jesus with the people, with the Jews and with the disciples is a beautiful dialogue, but a demanding one. Jesus tries to open the eyes of the people in a way that they will learn to read the events and discover in them the turning point that life should take. Because it is not enough to follow behind miraculous signs which multiply the bread for the body. Man does not live by bread alone. The struggle for life without mysticism does not reach the roots. The people, while speaking with Jesus, always remain more annoyed or upset by his words. But Jesus does not give in, neither does he change the exigencies. The discourse seems to be a funnel. In the measure in which the conversation advances, less people remain with Jesus. At the end only the twelve remain there, but Jesus cannot trust them either! Today the same thing happens. When the Gospel beings to demand commitment, many people withdraw, go away.
Jesus answered: In all truth I tell you, you are looking for me not because you have seen the signs but because you had all the bread you wanted to eat. Do not work for food that goes bad, but work for food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of man will give you, for on him the Father, God himself, has set his seal.
Then they said to him, 'What must we do if we are to carry out God's work?' Jesus gave them this answer, 'This is carrying out God's work: you must believe in the one he has sent.'
So they said, 'What sign will you yourself do, the sight of which will make us believe in you? What work will you do? Our fathers ate manna in the desert; as scripture says: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'
Jesus answered them: In all truth I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, it is my Father who gives you the bread from heaven, the true bread; for the bread of God is the bread which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.
'Sir,' they said, 'give us that bread always.' Jesus answered them: I am the bread of life. No one who comes to me will ever hunger; no one who believes in me will ever thirst.
3. A moment of prayerful silence
so that the Word of God may penetrate and enlighten our life.
4. Some questions
to help us in our personal reflection.
a) The people were hungry, they eat the bread and they look for more bread. They seek the miracle and do not seek the sign of God who was hidden in that. What do I seek more in my life: the miracle or the sign?
b) Hungry for bread, hungry for God. Which of these two predominates in me?
c) Jesus says: “I am the bread of life”. He takes away hunger and thirst. Which of these experiences do I have in my life?
d) Keep silence within you for a moment and ask yourself: “To believe in Jesus: What does this mean for me concretely in my daily life?”
5. For those who wish to deepen more into the theme
a) Context:
In today’s Gospel we begin the Discourse on the Bread of Life (Jn 6, 22-71). After the multiplication of the loaves, the people follow Jesus. They had seen the miracle; they had eaten and were satiated and wanted more! They were not concerned about looking for the sign or the call of God that was contained in all of this. When the people found Jesus in the Synagogue of Capernaum, he had a long conversation with them, called the Discourse of the Bread of Life. It is not really a Discourse, but it treats of a series of seven brief dialogues which explain the meaning of the multiplication of the bread, symbol of the new Exodus and of the Eucharistic Supper.
The conversation of Jesus with the people, with the Jews and with the disciples is a beautiful dialogue, but a demanding one. Jesus tries to open the eyes of the people in a way that they will learn to read the events and discover in them the turning point that life should take. Because it is not enough to follow behind miraculous signs which multiply the bread for the body. Man does not live by bread alone. The struggle for life without mysticism does not reach the roots. The people, while speaking with Jesus, always remain more annoyed or upset by his words. But Jesus does not give in, neither does he change the exigencies. The discourse seems to be a funnel. In the measure in which the conversation advances, less people remain with Jesus. At the end only the twelve remain there, but Jesus cannot trust them either! Today the same thing happens. When the Gospel beings to demand commitment, many people withdraw, go away.
b) Commentary on the text
John 6,24-27: People look for Jesus because they want more
bread. The people follow Jesus. They see that he did not go into the boat with
the disciples and, because of this, they do not understand what he had done to
reach Capernaum. They did not even understand the miracle of the multiplication
of the loaves. People see what has happened, but they cannot understand all
this as a sign of something more profound. They stop only on the surface; in
being satisfied with the food. They look for bread and life, but only for the
body. According to the people, Jesus does what Moses had done in the past: to
feed all the people in the desert. According to Jesus, they wanted the past to
be repeated. But Jesus asks the people to take a step more and advance. Besides
working for the bread that perishes, they should work for the imperishable
food. This new food will be given by the Son of Man, indicated by God himself.
He brings life which lasts forever. He opens for us a new horizon on the sense
of life and on God.
John 6,28-29: “Which is God’s work?” The people ask: what should
we do to carry out this work of God? Jesus answers that the great work of God
asks us to “believe in the one sent by God”. That is, to believe in Jesus!
John 6,30-33: “What sign will you yourself do, the sign which
will make us believe in you?” People had asked: What should we do to carry out
the work of God? Jesus responds: “The work of God is to believe in the one who
has sent”, that is to believe in Jesus. This is why people formulate the new
question: “Which sign do you do so that we can see and can believe? Which work
do you do?” This means that they did not understand the multiplication of the
loaves as a sign from God to legitimize Jesus before the people, as the one
sent by God! They continue to argue: In the past our fathers ate the manna
which Moses gave them! They called it “bread from Heaven” (Ws 16,20), that is,
“bread of God”. Moses continues to be the great leader in whom to believe. If
Jesus wants the people to believe in him, he should work a greater sign than
Moses. “What work do you do?”
Jesus responds that the bread given by Moses was not the true bread from heaven. Coming from on high, yes, but it was not the bread of God, because it did not guarantee life to any one. All of them died in the desert (Jn 6,49). The true bread of heaven, the bread of God, is the one which conquers death and gives life! It is the one which descends from Heaven and gives life to the world. It is Jesus himself! Jesus tries to help the people to liberate themselves from the way of thinking of the past. For him, fidelity to the past does not mean to close up oneself in the ancient things and not accept renewal. Fidelity to the past means to accept the novelty which comes as the fruit of the seed which was planted in the past.
Jesus responds that the bread given by Moses was not the true bread from heaven. Coming from on high, yes, but it was not the bread of God, because it did not guarantee life to any one. All of them died in the desert (Jn 6,49). The true bread of heaven, the bread of God, is the one which conquers death and gives life! It is the one which descends from Heaven and gives life to the world. It is Jesus himself! Jesus tries to help the people to liberate themselves from the way of thinking of the past. For him, fidelity to the past does not mean to close up oneself in the ancient things and not accept renewal. Fidelity to the past means to accept the novelty which comes as the fruit of the seed which was planted in the past.
John 6,34-35: “Lord, gives us always of that bread!” Jesus
answers clearly: “I am the bread of life!” To eat the bread of heaven is the
same as to believe in Jesus and accept to follow the road that he teaches us,
that is: “My food is to do the will of the one who has sent me and to complete
his work!” (Jn 4,34). This is the true food which nourishes the person, which
transforms life and gives new life.
6. Prayer of Psalm 111
Alleluia! I give thanks to Yahweh with all my heart,
in the meeting-place of honest people, in the assembly.
Great are the deeds of Yahweh,
to be pondered by all who delight in them.
6. Prayer of Psalm 111
Alleluia! I give thanks to Yahweh with all my heart,
in the meeting-place of honest people, in the assembly.
Great are the deeds of Yahweh,
to be pondered by all who delight in them.
Full of splendour and majesty his work,
his saving justice stands firm for ever.
He gives us a memorial of his great deeds;
Yahweh is mercy and tenderness.
He gives food to those who fear him,
he keeps his covenant ever in mind.
his saving justice stands firm for ever.
He gives us a memorial of his great deeds;
Yahweh is mercy and tenderness.
He gives food to those who fear him,
he keeps his covenant ever in mind.
His works show his people his power
in giving them the birthright of the nations.
The works of his hands are fidelity and justice,
all his precepts are trustworthy,
established for ever and ever,
accomplished in fidelity and honesty.
in giving them the birthright of the nations.
The works of his hands are fidelity and justice,
all his precepts are trustworthy,
established for ever and ever,
accomplished in fidelity and honesty.
Deliverance he sends to his people,
his covenant he imposes for ever;
holy and awesome his name.
The root of wisdom is fear of Yahweh;
those who attain it are wise.
His praise will continue for ever.
7. Final Prayer
Lord Jesus, we thank for the word that has enabled us to understand better the will of the Father. May your Spirit enlighten our actions and grant us the strength to practice that which your Word has revealed to us. May we, like Mary, your mother, not only listen to but also practice the Word. You who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
his covenant he imposes for ever;
holy and awesome his name.
The root of wisdom is fear of Yahweh;
those who attain it are wise.
His praise will continue for ever.
7. Final Prayer
Lord Jesus, we thank for the word that has enabled us to understand better the will of the Father. May your Spirit enlighten our actions and grant us the strength to practice that which your Word has revealed to us. May we, like Mary, your mother, not only listen to but also practice the Word. You who live and reign with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.
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