Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 122
Lectionary: 122
Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem,
summoning their elders, their leaders,
their judges, and their officers.
When they stood in ranks before God,
Joshua addressed all the people:
"If it does not please you to serve the LORD,
decide today whom you will serve,
the gods your fathers served beyond the River
or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are now dwelling.
As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
But the people answered,
"Far be it from us to forsake the LORD
for the service of other gods.
For it was the LORD, our God,
who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt,
out of a state of slavery.
He performed those great miracles before our very eyes
and protected us along our entire journey
and among the peoples through whom we passed.
Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God."
summoning their elders, their leaders,
their judges, and their officers.
When they stood in ranks before God,
Joshua addressed all the people:
"If it does not please you to serve the LORD,
decide today whom you will serve,
the gods your fathers served beyond the River
or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are now dwelling.
As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."
But the people answered,
"Far be it from us to forsake the LORD
for the service of other gods.
For it was the LORD, our God,
who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt,
out of a state of slavery.
He performed those great miracles before our very eyes
and protected us along our entire journey
and among the peoples through whom we passed.
Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God."
Responsorial
PsalmPS 34:2-3, 16-17, 18-19,
20-21
R. (9a) Taste
and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
The LORD has eyes for the just,
and ears for their cry.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Many are the troubles of the just one,
but out of them all the LORD delivers him;
he watches over all his bones;
not one of them shall be broken.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
The LORD has eyes for the just,
and ears for their cry.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Many are the troubles of the just one,
but out of them all the LORD delivers him;
he watches over all his bones;
not one of them shall be broken.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Reading 2EPH 5:21-32 OR 5:2A,
25-32
Brothers and sisters:
Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.
For the husband is head of his wife
just as Christ is head of the church,
he himself the savior of the body.
As the church is subordinate to Christ,
so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives,
even as Christ loved the church
and handed himself over for her to sanctify her,
cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,
that he might present to himself the church in splendor,
without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,
that she might be holy and without blemish.
So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies.
He who loves his wife loves himself.
For no one hates his own flesh
but rather nourishes and cherishes it,
even as Christ does the church,
because we are members of his body.
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother
and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.
This is a great mystery,
but I speak in reference to Christ and the church.
or
Brothers and sisters:
Live in love, as Christ loved us.
Husbands, love your wives,
even as Christ loved the church
and handed himself over for her to sanctify her,
cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,
that he might present to himself the church in splendor,
without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,
that she might be holy and without blemish.
So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies.
He who loves his wife loves himself.
For no one hates his own flesh
but rather nourishes and cherishes it,
even as Christ does the church,
because we are members of his body.
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother
and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.
This is a great mystery,
but I speak in reference to Christ and the church.
Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.
For the husband is head of his wife
just as Christ is head of the church,
he himself the savior of the body.
As the church is subordinate to Christ,
so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything.
Husbands, love your wives,
even as Christ loved the church
and handed himself over for her to sanctify her,
cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,
that he might present to himself the church in splendor,
without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,
that she might be holy and without blemish.
So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies.
He who loves his wife loves himself.
For no one hates his own flesh
but rather nourishes and cherishes it,
even as Christ does the church,
because we are members of his body.
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother
and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.
This is a great mystery,
but I speak in reference to Christ and the church.
or
Brothers and sisters:
Live in love, as Christ loved us.
Husbands, love your wives,
even as Christ loved the church
and handed himself over for her to sanctify her,
cleansing her by the bath of water with the word,
that he might present to himself the church in splendor,
without spot or wrinkle or any such thing,
that she might be holy and without blemish.
So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies.
He who loves his wife loves himself.
For no one hates his own flesh
but rather nourishes and cherishes it,
even as Christ does the church,
because we are members of his body.
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother
and be joined to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.
This is a great mystery,
but I speak in reference to Christ and the church.
AlleluiaJN 6:63C, 68C
R. Alleluia,
alleluia.
Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life;
you have the words of everlasting life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life;
you have the words of everlasting life.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GospelJN 6:60-69
Many of Jesus' disciples who were listening said,
"This saying is hard; who can accept it?"
Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this,
he said to them, "Does this shock you?
What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending
to where he was before?
It is the spirit that gives life,
while the flesh is of no avail.
The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.
But there are some of you who do not believe."
Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe
and the one who would betray him.
And he said,
"For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me
unless it is granted him by my Father."
As a result of this,
many of his disciples returned to their former way of life
and no longer accompanied him.
Jesus then said to the Twelve, "Do you also want to leave?"
Simon Peter answered him, "Master, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life.
We have come to believe
and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God."
"This saying is hard; who can accept it?"
Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this,
he said to them, "Does this shock you?
What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending
to where he was before?
It is the spirit that gives life,
while the flesh is of no avail.
The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.
But there are some of you who do not believe."
Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe
and the one who would betray him.
And he said,
"For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me
unless it is granted him by my Father."
As a result of this,
many of his disciples returned to their former way of life
and no longer accompanied him.
Jesus then said to the Twelve, "Do you also want to leave?"
Simon Peter answered him, "Master, to whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life.
We have come to believe
and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God."
Meditation: "You have the words of everlasting life"
: Why do some find
it easier while others find it harder to accept the claims which Jesus made?
Many were attracted to Jesus because he offered them something irresistible - a
visible sign of God's mercy and favor which Jesus demonstrated in his wonderful
works of healing, deliverance, and miraculous signs, including the
multiplication of the loaves and fish when he feed the five thousand who had
gathered to hear him speak. Many stumbled, however, when Jesus made claims
which only God can make. Jesus' discourse on "eating his flesh and
drinking his blood" (see John 6:51-59) which pointed to the Last
Supper, caused offence to many of his followers.
The blessing of full union with God through Christ
Jesus claimed to be the bread of heaven, the very life of God given to us as spiritual food to sustain us on our journey to our promised homeland with the Father in heaven. Jesus did not leave any middle ground for his hearers. They must either accept his word as divine or reject it as the claim of an imposter. Even the apostles admitted that this was a "hard saying". This expression meant that it was not just hard to understand, but hard to accept. Jesus pressed the issue with his beloved disciples because he wanted to test their faith and loyalty to him as the Holy One sent from the Father in heaven. Jesus promised his disciples nothing less than the full blessing of eternal life and union with God. Jesus assures his disciples that it is his heavenly Father who gives the invitation and the grace to believe and follow even in the "hard sayings". Jesus knew that some would not only reject him and his word, but would do so with violence fueled by hatred, envy, and even betrayal by one of his own disciples.
Jesus claimed to be the bread of heaven, the very life of God given to us as spiritual food to sustain us on our journey to our promised homeland with the Father in heaven. Jesus did not leave any middle ground for his hearers. They must either accept his word as divine or reject it as the claim of an imposter. Even the apostles admitted that this was a "hard saying". This expression meant that it was not just hard to understand, but hard to accept. Jesus pressed the issue with his beloved disciples because he wanted to test their faith and loyalty to him as the Holy One sent from the Father in heaven. Jesus promised his disciples nothing less than the full blessing of eternal life and union with God. Jesus assures his disciples that it is his heavenly Father who gives the invitation and the grace to believe and follow even in the "hard sayings". Jesus knew that some would not only reject him and his word, but would do so with violence fueled by hatred, envy, and even betrayal by one of his own disciples.
"My words are spirit and life"
Jesus told his disciples that his words were "spirit and life" (John 6:63) - his words came from the heavenly Father who is the Author of life and the One who breathes his Spirit into those who believe in him. Through the gift of faith Peter was able to receive spiritual revelation of who Jesus truly is - the Holy One of God, the eternal Son sent from the Father in heaven to redeem a fallen human race and reconcile them with God.
Jesus told his disciples that his words were "spirit and life" (John 6:63) - his words came from the heavenly Father who is the Author of life and the One who breathes his Spirit into those who believe in him. Through the gift of faith Peter was able to receive spiritual revelation of who Jesus truly is - the Holy One of God, the eternal Son sent from the Father in heaven to redeem a fallen human race and reconcile them with God.
Faith is a gift and a personal response to God's
revelation of himself
How does God help us grow in faith and trust in his word, even the hard sayings which are difficult to understand? Faith is a gift which God freely gives to those who listen to his word and who put their trust in him. Faith is a personal response to God's revelation of himself. Faith is neither blind nor ignorant. It is based on the truth and reliability of God's word. True faith seeks understanding. Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) said, "I believe in order to understand, and I understand the better to believe." The Lord Jesus offers all of his followers his life-giving word and Spirit to help us grow in our knowledge and understanding of God.
How does God help us grow in faith and trust in his word, even the hard sayings which are difficult to understand? Faith is a gift which God freely gives to those who listen to his word and who put their trust in him. Faith is a personal response to God's revelation of himself. Faith is neither blind nor ignorant. It is based on the truth and reliability of God's word. True faith seeks understanding. Saint Augustine of Hippo (354-430 AD) said, "I believe in order to understand, and I understand the better to believe." The Lord Jesus offers all of his followers his life-giving word and Spirit to help us grow in our knowledge and understanding of God.
We can know God personally through his word
Paul the Apostle tells us that it is the work of the Holy Spirit who enlightens the eyes of our heart and mind to understand the truth and wisdom which comes from God (Ephesians 1:17-18). Faith is the key to understanding and experiencing God's action and work in our personal lives. Paul the Apostle tells us that "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us" (Romans 5:5). We can know God personally, and we grow in recognizing his voice as we listen to his word and obey his instruction. Do you believe, as Peter did, that Jesus has the words of everlasting life and the power to change and transform your life? Ask the Lord Jesus to increase your faith that you may grow in knowing, loving, and serving him as your Lord and Redeemer, Teacher and Healer, Master and Savior.
Paul the Apostle tells us that it is the work of the Holy Spirit who enlightens the eyes of our heart and mind to understand the truth and wisdom which comes from God (Ephesians 1:17-18). Faith is the key to understanding and experiencing God's action and work in our personal lives. Paul the Apostle tells us that "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us" (Romans 5:5). We can know God personally, and we grow in recognizing his voice as we listen to his word and obey his instruction. Do you believe, as Peter did, that Jesus has the words of everlasting life and the power to change and transform your life? Ask the Lord Jesus to increase your faith that you may grow in knowing, loving, and serving him as your Lord and Redeemer, Teacher and Healer, Master and Savior.
"Lord Jesus, you have the words of everlasting
life. Help me to cast aside all doubt and fear so that I may freely embrace
your word with complete trust and joy. I surrender all to you. Be the Lord of
my life and the Ruler of my heart. May there be nothing which hinders me from
trusting in your love and following your will."
Daily Quote from the early church fathers: Eat Life - Drink Life, by Augustine of
Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"'Unless you eat My Flesh and drink My Blood, you
shall not have life in you,' says the Lord. Eat life - drink life. You will
then have life, and life is complete. Then the Body and Blood of Christ will be
life for each person under this condition: what is eaten visibly in the
Sacrament be spiritually eaten and spiritually drunk in truth
itself." (excerpt from Sermon 102,2)
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B
Note: Where a Scripture text is underlined in the body of this discussion, it is recommended that the reader look up and read that passage.
1st Reading - Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b
Joshua is the sixth book of the Old Testament and is named after the one to whom Jewish tradition attributes authorship. However, as we presently have it, it cannot be entirely his work as some passages point to events which occurred at a later date.
Joshua (Greek: Jesus, Hebrew: Yeshua) was the person designated by Moses to succeed him in the governing of Israel. Moses passed all his authority on to Joshua, with the exception of his priestly powers, which went to Eleazar. Joshua (the name means Yahweh is salvation) had his name changed from Hoshea (salvation) by Moses (Numbers 13:16). It was Joshua who led the Hebrews to victory over the Amalekites while Moses prayed (Exodus 17:8-16). He was elected as the tribe of Ephriam’s representative in the group of 12 sent to reconnoiter the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:8). He and Caleb are the only people who were over the age of 20 when the Jews left Egypt who lived to enter the promised land; all the rest died in punishment for their infidelity (Numbers 14:30-38; 31:26-65; 32:13).
The book of Joshua falls naturally into two parts:
1) The crossing of the Jordan, the fall of Jericho, and the conquest of Palestine (Chapters 1 through 12); and
2) The division of the lands (Chapters 13 through 24). Today’s reading comes from the last chapter of the book where Joshua addresses the people assembled at Shechem on the subject of fidelity to God’s law.
24:1 Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem,
The name Shechem means “shoulders” because of its location between the shoulders of Mt. Ebal to the northwest and Mt. Gerizim to the southwest. The shrine there may have contained the Ark of the Covenant but it is not clear.
summoning their elders, their leaders, their judges and their officers. When they stood in ranks before God,
This is probably an allusion to the Ark of the Covenant.
2a Joshua addressed all the people: 15 If it does not please you to serve the LORD, decide today whom you will serve,
Choose – A choice between Yahweh and other gods.
the gods your fathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are dwelling.
Judges 1:1 through 3:6 tells us the Amorites still occupy most of the land.
As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” 16 But the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD for the service of other gods. 17 For it was the LORD, our God, who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, out of a state of slavery. He performed those great miracles before our very eyes and protected us along our entire journey and among all the peoples through whom we passed. 18b Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.”
This affirmation expresses the essence of Israel as a confederation whose principle unity was religious: worship of Yahweh and Yahweh alone. They are a covenant people.
2nd Reading - Ephesians 5:21-32
This is our last reading from the letter to the Ephesians during Cycle B. During the past four weeks we have learned of the Call to Unity, Interior Renewal, Christian Virtues, and the Chaste Life of the Children of God. This week we hear about Christian Family Life. The Apostle explores what being Christian means in the context of husband-wife relations and this is our subject for today. This teaching of Scripture has been the subject of much discussion of late; especially among the Southern Baptist Convention, which has recently adopted it as a rule of faith. Parent-child relations are addressed in 6:1-4 and are recommended reading. The supposition here is that both husband and wife are Christians (1 Peter 3:1-7 addresses the situation of a Christian wife and a pagan husband).
21 Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ.
This saying announces a principle which is applied to relationships between husband and wife, parent and child, master and slave. Christ’s self-sacrificing love for others (Ephesians 5:1) is now the model for home (and Christian) life.
22 Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.
This is a new motivation. Relationships between Christians must be accompanied by a reverence for Christ’s fellow members; after all, we are all members of the body of Christ (there is a parallel text in Colossians 3:18).
“The union of Christ and the Church is holy. So is the proper union of husband and wife holy. Just as a congregation of heretics, however, cannot rightly be called the Church of Christ and cannot have Christ as its head, so it is that the union between husband and wife cannot be truly called holy if there is a disregard for the way of life taught by Christ” [Saint Jerome (A.D. 436), Commentaries On The Epistle To The Ephesians, 5,22-23].
23 For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the church, he himself the savior of the body. 24 As the church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her
Christ gave Himself for others (Galatians 2:20; the parallel text is Colossians 3:19). In these verses about wives and husbands the apostle has developed an analogy whereby husband represents Christ and wife represents church. This teaching has its roots in the Old Testament where the relationships between Yahweh and His people are expressed, through the preaching of the prophets, in terms of the relationships between husband and wife. The husband loves his wife truly, he is completely faithful to her (Hosea 1:3; Jeremiah 2:20; Ezekiel 16:1-34). God is forever faithful to the love He has shown Israel, and He is ever ready to pardon her (Isaiah 54:5-8; 62:4-5; Jeremiah 31:21-22) and to re-establish his Covenant with the people (Isaiah 16:5-63). Jesus describes himself as the bridegroom (Matthew 9:15; John 3:27). He brings into being the New Covenant, which gives rise to the new people of God, the Church (Matthew 26:26-29). The relationship between Christ and the Church appears in the New Testament in terms of husband and wife.
26 to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, 27 that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
“By what ‘word’ is she ‘washed?’ ‘In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.’ He did not simply bathe her; He adorned her, making her glorious, having no spot or wrinkle or anything lacking. Let us not seek from the wife something she does not have to give. For you see the pattern: the Church has received everything from Christ” [Saint John Chrysostom (A.D. 392-397), Homilies On The Epistle To The Ephesians, 20,5,27].
28 So (also) husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave (his) father and (his) mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”
Genesis 2:24. Saint Paul is not just using Christian marriage as a comparison to explain Christ’s relationship with the Church: he is saying that the relationship is actually embodied and verified between Christian husband and wife. This means that marriage between baptized people is a true sacrament, as the Church has always taught. A covenant relationship exists between them just as it does between God and His Church.
32 This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the church.
Gospel - John 6:60-69
Today we complete our study of John’s presentation of Jesus’ bread of life discourse; a study that has taken us 4 weeks to cover 46 verses; a study that not only the Catholic Church, but the Episcopal and Lutheran churches consider important enough to devote these four weeks to once every three years. The point of correlation between the 1st reading and this gospel reading is the necessity of making the decision now as to whether you will follow the Lord or not – the moment of truth has arrived.
60 Then many of his disciples who were listening said,
Not just the apostles, but many others as well. This group was described in John 6:22 as a crowd. This event is taking place very shortly after the feeding of the five thousand (and the four thousand if you proceed to this point from the Gospels of Matthew and Mark) and many were attracted to Jesus.
“This saying is hard;
Jesus has made many claims: He is the Messiah, or at least a prophet – but they know his family; He is the Bread of Life – but He looks like a human; He gives eternal life – but this is something only God can do; you must eat His flesh – but this is cannibalism; you must drink His blood – but this is forbidden by the Law; and to top it all off, He has said all this in the form of a covenant oath!
who can accept it?”
Break out the straight jacket, this guy’s gone off the deep end! This sounds like the ravings of a mad man!
61 Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you?
Do you think this is hard to believe?
62 What if you were to see
If you think that was hard, try this one on for size! You haven’t even heard the hardest part yet! Jesus doesn’t make any attempt to go back and smooth things out; correct misunderstandings, because they don’t misunderstand. They simply don’t believe what they are hearing. Recall, back in verse 29 Jesus said “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” If you don’t believe in Him, then you won’t believe what He is saying. The role of the prophet, which is who some think He is, is to speak God’s words. Some in the crowd don’t believe and now He is going to make one final appeal; an appeal that will separate the wheat from the chaff, one final prophetic image. Some on the borderline will be convinced and the unbelievers are going to fall away.
the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?
Predicts His own ascension. To the Jewish listener this would most likely recall the assumption of Enoch (Genesis 5:24), Elijah (2 Kings 2:11), or Moses who according to Hebrew tradition was taken to heaven by God after his death which is why his grave has never been found (Deuteronomy 34:6). Any one of these three instances would have called to mind a prophet; someone sent by God, someone who spoke God’s words.
63 It is the spirit that gives life,
It is the grace of God, given by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, that gives a spiritual life (2 Corinthians 3:6; 1 Corinthians 15:45-47; John 3:6).
while the flesh is of no avail.
A body without a spirit is dead, a corpse. Without the Holy Spirit, they are spiritually dead. Note that He doesn’t say “my flesh” which is the subject of the Eucharistic passage, but “the flesh” of John 3:6 and 8:15. The hearers have continually concerned themselves with manna for the body rather than food for the soul.
The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
“Believe in Him whom He has sent,” “eat My Flesh,” “drink My Blood”. If you believe, then you will be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit (John 3:3-8). If you eat and drink His Body and Blood, you will receive everlasting life. Jesus is alive, His Flesh and Blood are not separate (a sign of death); both are present in the Eucharist. His Body and Blood cannot be separated; He has ascended.
64 But there are some of you who do not believe.”
Jesus acknowledges their unbelief. He doesn’t try a new approach to convince them. There is only one approach and understanding; either you believe it or you don’t.
Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him.
Judas was one of the unbelievers, one who denied the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
65 And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.”
God’s grace is necessary in order to have faith and understand (Isaiah 54:13). Jeremiah 31:33-34 has the same theme which accompanies the promise of the new covenant. It is a free gift but you have to be open to receive it.
66 As a result of this, many (of) his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.
Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of souls left; turned their backs on Jesus and eternal life. If Jesus had not been speaking literally, this was His last chance to correct their misunderstanding. Since He didn’t, we have absolute assurance that their literal understanding is the correct one. This is the only incident recorded in Holy Scripture where anyone stops being a follower of Jesus for a reason of doctrine.
67 Jesus then said to the Twelve,
Jesus addresses all the Apostles directly.
“Do you also want to leave?”
He doesn’t say “They misunderstood me, go and bring them back so I can explain it to them”. When He spoke in parables to the people, He explained everything to the Apostles in private (Mark 4:34). Here, He doesn’t attempt to change His teaching or explain it further; even to His most intimate friends. Instead, He simply asks if they have so little faith that they will leave too.
68 Simon Peter answered him,
Peter, chosen by Jesus to be the chief Apostle (Matthew 16:19), acts as spokesman for the entire group.
“Master, to whom shall we go?
If we had a choice, we would leave too, but there is no other choice. We know you have come from God. You speak the words of God (John 3:34; 17:8). We don’t fully understand your message, but we have enough faith in You because of He who sent You that we will stay with You.
You have the words of eternal life.
You have given us God’s promise of eternal life. “Eat My Flesh, drink My Blood,” these actions truly give us eternal life.
69 We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”
This is not necessarily a Messianic title. Prophets were also given this title; but He certainly was sent by God. Although the Apostles have not yet come to know Christ in all His fullness, they are on the way to this knowledge. They have not only seen Him, but realize that He has been sent by God and because of that they believe everything He has said; not fully understanding, but accepting it because of their faith in Him (verses 37 and 40).
Note: Where a Scripture text is underlined in the body of this discussion, it is recommended that the reader look up and read that passage.
1st Reading - Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b
Joshua is the sixth book of the Old Testament and is named after the one to whom Jewish tradition attributes authorship. However, as we presently have it, it cannot be entirely his work as some passages point to events which occurred at a later date.
Joshua (Greek: Jesus, Hebrew: Yeshua) was the person designated by Moses to succeed him in the governing of Israel. Moses passed all his authority on to Joshua, with the exception of his priestly powers, which went to Eleazar. Joshua (the name means Yahweh is salvation) had his name changed from Hoshea (salvation) by Moses (Numbers 13:16). It was Joshua who led the Hebrews to victory over the Amalekites while Moses prayed (Exodus 17:8-16). He was elected as the tribe of Ephriam’s representative in the group of 12 sent to reconnoiter the land of Canaan (Numbers 13:8). He and Caleb are the only people who were over the age of 20 when the Jews left Egypt who lived to enter the promised land; all the rest died in punishment for their infidelity (Numbers 14:30-38; 31:26-65; 32:13).
The book of Joshua falls naturally into two parts:
1) The crossing of the Jordan, the fall of Jericho, and the conquest of Palestine (Chapters 1 through 12); and
2) The division of the lands (Chapters 13 through 24). Today’s reading comes from the last chapter of the book where Joshua addresses the people assembled at Shechem on the subject of fidelity to God’s law.
24:1 Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem,
The name Shechem means “shoulders” because of its location between the shoulders of Mt. Ebal to the northwest and Mt. Gerizim to the southwest. The shrine there may have contained the Ark of the Covenant but it is not clear.
summoning their elders, their leaders, their judges and their officers. When they stood in ranks before God,
This is probably an allusion to the Ark of the Covenant.
2a Joshua addressed all the people: 15 If it does not please you to serve the LORD, decide today whom you will serve,
Choose – A choice between Yahweh and other gods.
the gods your fathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are dwelling.
Judges 1:1 through 3:6 tells us the Amorites still occupy most of the land.
As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” 16 But the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the LORD for the service of other gods. 17 For it was the LORD, our God, who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, out of a state of slavery. He performed those great miracles before our very eyes and protected us along our entire journey and among all the peoples through whom we passed. 18b Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.”
This affirmation expresses the essence of Israel as a confederation whose principle unity was religious: worship of Yahweh and Yahweh alone. They are a covenant people.
2nd Reading - Ephesians 5:21-32
This is our last reading from the letter to the Ephesians during Cycle B. During the past four weeks we have learned of the Call to Unity, Interior Renewal, Christian Virtues, and the Chaste Life of the Children of God. This week we hear about Christian Family Life. The Apostle explores what being Christian means in the context of husband-wife relations and this is our subject for today. This teaching of Scripture has been the subject of much discussion of late; especially among the Southern Baptist Convention, which has recently adopted it as a rule of faith. Parent-child relations are addressed in 6:1-4 and are recommended reading. The supposition here is that both husband and wife are Christians (1 Peter 3:1-7 addresses the situation of a Christian wife and a pagan husband).
21 Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ.
This saying announces a principle which is applied to relationships between husband and wife, parent and child, master and slave. Christ’s self-sacrificing love for others (Ephesians 5:1) is now the model for home (and Christian) life.
22 Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord.
This is a new motivation. Relationships between Christians must be accompanied by a reverence for Christ’s fellow members; after all, we are all members of the body of Christ (there is a parallel text in Colossians 3:18).
“The union of Christ and the Church is holy. So is the proper union of husband and wife holy. Just as a congregation of heretics, however, cannot rightly be called the Church of Christ and cannot have Christ as its head, so it is that the union between husband and wife cannot be truly called holy if there is a disregard for the way of life taught by Christ” [Saint Jerome (A.D. 436), Commentaries On The Epistle To The Ephesians, 5,22-23].
23 For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the church, he himself the savior of the body. 24 As the church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her
Christ gave Himself for others (Galatians 2:20; the parallel text is Colossians 3:19). In these verses about wives and husbands the apostle has developed an analogy whereby husband represents Christ and wife represents church. This teaching has its roots in the Old Testament where the relationships between Yahweh and His people are expressed, through the preaching of the prophets, in terms of the relationships between husband and wife. The husband loves his wife truly, he is completely faithful to her (Hosea 1:3; Jeremiah 2:20; Ezekiel 16:1-34). God is forever faithful to the love He has shown Israel, and He is ever ready to pardon her (Isaiah 54:5-8; 62:4-5; Jeremiah 31:21-22) and to re-establish his Covenant with the people (Isaiah 16:5-63). Jesus describes himself as the bridegroom (Matthew 9:15; John 3:27). He brings into being the New Covenant, which gives rise to the new people of God, the Church (Matthew 26:26-29). The relationship between Christ and the Church appears in the New Testament in terms of husband and wife.
26 to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, 27 that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.
“By what ‘word’ is she ‘washed?’ ‘In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.’ He did not simply bathe her; He adorned her, making her glorious, having no spot or wrinkle or anything lacking. Let us not seek from the wife something she does not have to give. For you see the pattern: the Church has received everything from Christ” [Saint John Chrysostom (A.D. 392-397), Homilies On The Epistle To The Ephesians, 20,5,27].
28 So (also) husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man shall leave (his) father and (his) mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.”
Genesis 2:24. Saint Paul is not just using Christian marriage as a comparison to explain Christ’s relationship with the Church: he is saying that the relationship is actually embodied and verified between Christian husband and wife. This means that marriage between baptized people is a true sacrament, as the Church has always taught. A covenant relationship exists between them just as it does between God and His Church.
32 This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the church.
Gospel - John 6:60-69
Today we complete our study of John’s presentation of Jesus’ bread of life discourse; a study that has taken us 4 weeks to cover 46 verses; a study that not only the Catholic Church, but the Episcopal and Lutheran churches consider important enough to devote these four weeks to once every three years. The point of correlation between the 1st reading and this gospel reading is the necessity of making the decision now as to whether you will follow the Lord or not – the moment of truth has arrived.
60 Then many of his disciples who were listening said,
Not just the apostles, but many others as well. This group was described in John 6:22 as a crowd. This event is taking place very shortly after the feeding of the five thousand (and the four thousand if you proceed to this point from the Gospels of Matthew and Mark) and many were attracted to Jesus.
“This saying is hard;
Jesus has made many claims: He is the Messiah, or at least a prophet – but they know his family; He is the Bread of Life – but He looks like a human; He gives eternal life – but this is something only God can do; you must eat His flesh – but this is cannibalism; you must drink His blood – but this is forbidden by the Law; and to top it all off, He has said all this in the form of a covenant oath!
who can accept it?”
Break out the straight jacket, this guy’s gone off the deep end! This sounds like the ravings of a mad man!
61 Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, “Does this shock you?
Do you think this is hard to believe?
62 What if you were to see
If you think that was hard, try this one on for size! You haven’t even heard the hardest part yet! Jesus doesn’t make any attempt to go back and smooth things out; correct misunderstandings, because they don’t misunderstand. They simply don’t believe what they are hearing. Recall, back in verse 29 Jesus said “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” If you don’t believe in Him, then you won’t believe what He is saying. The role of the prophet, which is who some think He is, is to speak God’s words. Some in the crowd don’t believe and now He is going to make one final appeal; an appeal that will separate the wheat from the chaff, one final prophetic image. Some on the borderline will be convinced and the unbelievers are going to fall away.
the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?
Predicts His own ascension. To the Jewish listener this would most likely recall the assumption of Enoch (Genesis 5:24), Elijah (2 Kings 2:11), or Moses who according to Hebrew tradition was taken to heaven by God after his death which is why his grave has never been found (Deuteronomy 34:6). Any one of these three instances would have called to mind a prophet; someone sent by God, someone who spoke God’s words.
63 It is the spirit that gives life,
It is the grace of God, given by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, that gives a spiritual life (2 Corinthians 3:6; 1 Corinthians 15:45-47; John 3:6).
while the flesh is of no avail.
A body without a spirit is dead, a corpse. Without the Holy Spirit, they are spiritually dead. Note that He doesn’t say “my flesh” which is the subject of the Eucharistic passage, but “the flesh” of John 3:6 and 8:15. The hearers have continually concerned themselves with manna for the body rather than food for the soul.
The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
“Believe in Him whom He has sent,” “eat My Flesh,” “drink My Blood”. If you believe, then you will be baptized and receive the Holy Spirit (John 3:3-8). If you eat and drink His Body and Blood, you will receive everlasting life. Jesus is alive, His Flesh and Blood are not separate (a sign of death); both are present in the Eucharist. His Body and Blood cannot be separated; He has ascended.
64 But there are some of you who do not believe.”
Jesus acknowledges their unbelief. He doesn’t try a new approach to convince them. There is only one approach and understanding; either you believe it or you don’t.
Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him.
Judas was one of the unbelievers, one who denied the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.
65 And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father.”
God’s grace is necessary in order to have faith and understand (Isaiah 54:13). Jeremiah 31:33-34 has the same theme which accompanies the promise of the new covenant. It is a free gift but you have to be open to receive it.
66 As a result of this, many (of) his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.
Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of souls left; turned their backs on Jesus and eternal life. If Jesus had not been speaking literally, this was His last chance to correct their misunderstanding. Since He didn’t, we have absolute assurance that their literal understanding is the correct one. This is the only incident recorded in Holy Scripture where anyone stops being a follower of Jesus for a reason of doctrine.
67 Jesus then said to the Twelve,
Jesus addresses all the Apostles directly.
“Do you also want to leave?”
He doesn’t say “They misunderstood me, go and bring them back so I can explain it to them”. When He spoke in parables to the people, He explained everything to the Apostles in private (Mark 4:34). Here, He doesn’t attempt to change His teaching or explain it further; even to His most intimate friends. Instead, He simply asks if they have so little faith that they will leave too.
68 Simon Peter answered him,
Peter, chosen by Jesus to be the chief Apostle (Matthew 16:19), acts as spokesman for the entire group.
“Master, to whom shall we go?
If we had a choice, we would leave too, but there is no other choice. We know you have come from God. You speak the words of God (John 3:34; 17:8). We don’t fully understand your message, but we have enough faith in You because of He who sent You that we will stay with You.
You have the words of eternal life.
You have given us God’s promise of eternal life. “Eat My Flesh, drink My Blood,” these actions truly give us eternal life.
69 We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”
This is not necessarily a Messianic title. Prophets were also given this title; but He certainly was sent by God. Although the Apostles have not yet come to know Christ in all His fullness, they are on the way to this knowledge. They have not only seen Him, but realize that He has been sent by God and because of that they believe everything He has said; not fully understanding, but accepting it because of their faith in Him (verses 37 and 40).
St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church,
Picayune, MS http://www.scborromeo.org
TWENTY-FIRST
SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, JOHN 6:60-69
(Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b; Psalm 34; Ephesians 5:21-32 or 5:2a, 25-32)
SUNDAY, AUGUST 26, JOHN 6:60-69
(Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b; Psalm 34; Ephesians 5:21-32 or 5:2a, 25-32)
KEY VERSE: "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life" (v.68).
TO KNOW: Jesus' pronouncement that he was the "bread of life" (v.48) caused division between those who had faith in him and those who did not. The unbelievers murmured against Jesus' teaching, and some of Jesus' own disciples doubted his words. Jesus did not retract his teaching but invited his followers to a deeper faith in this mystery, which could only be understood through God's grace. If they could not believe that he was God's Word become flesh, what would they think when he ascended to his Father in glory? Jesus asked the twelve apostles if they too planned to leave him. Peter, the leader of the future Church, confessed his faith in the life-giving words of Jesus. There was no one else to whom he could go. The twelve apostles are mirrors of ourselves, flawed but graced human beings.
TO LOVE: Do my words help to bring others to faith or lead them astray?
TO SERVE: Lord Jesus, help me to believe your word of life.
Sunday 26 August
2018
Week I Psalter. 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Joshua 24:1–2, 15–18. Psalm 33(34):2–3, 16–23. Ephesians
5:21–32. John 6:60–69.
Taste and see the goodness of the Lord—Psalm 33(34):2–3, 16–23.
‘We too shall serve the Lord, for he is our God.’
Simon Peter wants to cling to the Lord. He feels strength and
courage in Jesus’ presence. He finds life in Jesus’ words. Indeed, perhaps he
feels a burgeoning sense that he is experiencing greater life and vitality ever
since he began journeying with Jesus.
Isn’t it the same for us? We desire to call on the Lord when we
are in need. When we experience joy in God’s presence we want to sing hymns and
songs of praise.
Throughout our life we journey with Jesus and in our
pilgrim walk we find an invitation to fullness of life.
Saint Joseph Calasanz
Saint of the Day for August 26
(September 11, 1556 – August 25, 1648)
 |
| San José de Calasanz | Francisco Jover y Casanova |
Saint Joseph Calasanz’ Story
From Aragon, where he was born in 1556, to Rome, where he died
92 years later, fortune alternately smiled and frowned on the work of Joseph
Calasanz. A priest with university training in canon law and theology,
respected for his wisdom and administrative expertise, he put aside his career
because he was deeply concerned with the need for education of poor children.
When he was unable to get other institutes to undertake this
apostolate at Rome, Joseph and several companions personally provided a free
school for deprived children. So overwhelming was the response that there was a
constant need for larger facilities to house their effort. Soon, Pope Clement
VIII gave support to the school, and this aid continued under Pope Paul V.
Other schools were opened; other men were attracted to the work, and in 1621
the community—for so the teachers lived—was recognized as a religious
community, the Clerks Regular of Religious Schools—Piarists or Scolopi. Not
long after, Joseph was appointed superior for life.
A combination of various prejudices and political ambition and
maneuvering caused the institute much turmoil. Some did not favor educating the
poor, for education would leave the poor dissatisfied with their lowly tasks
for society! Others were shocked that some of the Piarists were sent for
instruction to Galileo—a friend of Joseph—as superior, thus dividing the
members into opposite camps. Repeatedly investigated by papal commissions,
Joseph was demoted; when the struggle within the institute persisted, the
Piarists were suppressed. Only after Joseph’s death were they formally
recognized as a religious community. His Liturgical Feast Day is August 25.
Reflection
No one knew better than Joseph the need for the work he was
doing; no one knew better than he how baseless were the charges brought against
him. Yet if he were to work within the Church, he realized that he must submit
to its authority, that he must accept a setback if he was unable to convince
authorized investigators. While the prejudice, the scheming and the ignorance
of men often keep the truth from emerging for a long period of time, Joseph was
convinced, even under suppression, that his institute would again be recognized
and authorized. With this trust he joined exceptional patience and a genuine
spirit of forgiveness.
LECTIO: 21ST SUNDAY OF
ORDINARY TIME (B)
Lectio Divina:
Sunday, August 26, 2018
The disciples' heart tested by the Word
of the Lord.
The challenge: to keep faith in the Father and the Son
or to side with the evil one.
John 6: 60-69
The challenge: to keep faith in the Father and the Son
or to side with the evil one.
John 6: 60-69
1. OPENING PRAYER
Lord, Your Word is sweet, it is like a
honeycomb, it is not hard nor is it bitter. It may burn like fire, it may be
like the hammer that breaks rock, it may be the sharp sword that pierces and
separates the soul… but, Lord, Your Word is sweet! Grant that I may listen to
it, that it may be gentle music, a song and an echo in my ears, my memory and
my intellect. I offer my whole being to You and ask You to grant that I may
listen faithfully, sincerely, strongly. Lord. grant that I may keep my ears and
heart fixed on Your lips, Your voice, so that not one word may be in vain. Pour
forth Your Holy Spirit to be like living water watering my field so that it may
bear fruit, thirty, sixty and a hundredfold. Lord, draw me, grant that I may
come to You, because, You know… where shall I go, to whom on this earth if not
to You?
2. READING
a) Placing the passage in its proper
context:
These are the concluding verses of the
great chapter six of John's Gospel, where the evangelist presents his
"Eucharistic theology". This conclusion is the climax of the chapter,
because the Word leads us deeper into and towards the center of things; from
the crowd at the start of the chapter, to the Jews who discuss with Jesus in
the synagogue in Capernaum, to the disciples, to the twelve, even to Peter, the
only one who stands for each one of us, alone, face to face with the Lord
Jesus. Here we hear the reply to Jesus' teaching, to the Word sown abundantly
in the heart of His listeners. Here we verify whether the soil of the heart
produces thorns and weeds or green shoots that produce ears and finally good
corn in the ears.
b) An aid to the reading of the passage:
b) An aid to the reading of the passage:
v. 60: Some disciples condemn the Word
of the Lord, and therefore Jesus Himself, who is the Word of God. God is not
seen as a good Father who speaks to His children, but as a hard master (Mt
25:24), with whom it is not possible to enter into dialogue.
vv. 61-65: Jesus unveils the incredulity and hardness of heart of His disciples and reveals His mysteries of salvation: His ascension into heaven, the gift of the Holy Spirit and our participation in the divine life. But these mysteries can only be understood and accepted by the wisdom of a docile heart, capable of listening, and not by means of physical intelligence.
v. 66: This verse reveals the first great betrayal by many disciples who have failed to understand the true teaching of Jesus. Instead of turning their gaze on the Master, they turn their backs on Him and thus break communion and no longer walk with Him.
vv. 67-69: Jesus now addresses Himself to the twelve, His most intimate friends, and places before them a final and absolute choice, whether to stay with Him or go away. Peter answers on behalf of all and proclaims the faith of the Church in Jesus as Son of God and in His Word, which is the true source of life.
vv. 61-65: Jesus unveils the incredulity and hardness of heart of His disciples and reveals His mysteries of salvation: His ascension into heaven, the gift of the Holy Spirit and our participation in the divine life. But these mysteries can only be understood and accepted by the wisdom of a docile heart, capable of listening, and not by means of physical intelligence.
v. 66: This verse reveals the first great betrayal by many disciples who have failed to understand the true teaching of Jesus. Instead of turning their gaze on the Master, they turn their backs on Him and thus break communion and no longer walk with Him.
vv. 67-69: Jesus now addresses Himself to the twelve, His most intimate friends, and places before them a final and absolute choice, whether to stay with Him or go away. Peter answers on behalf of all and proclaims the faith of the Church in Jesus as Son of God and in His Word, which is the true source of life.
c) The text:
Many of Jesus' disciples who were listening said, "This saying is hard; who can accept it?" Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, "Does this shock you?
Many of Jesus' disciples who were listening said, "This saying is hard; who can accept it?" Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, "Does this shock you?
What if you were to see the Son of Man
ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, while the
flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life. But
there are some of you who do not believe." Jesus knew from the beginning
the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said,
"For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is
granted him by my Father." As a result of this, many of his disciples
returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. Jesus then
said to the Twelve, "Do you also want to leave?" Simon Peter answered
him, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We
have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God."
3. A MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER
I have received the gift, the grace. I
have listened to the Word of the Lord, now I do not wish to murmur (v. 61); I
do not wish to be scandalized (v. 61); nor do I wish to yield to incredulity
(v. 64). I do not wish to betray my Master (v. 64); I do not wish to withdraw
and not walk with Him any longer (v. 66)… I wish to remain with the Lord at all
times! In the silence of my heart, I repeat endlessly to Him: "Lord, to
whom shall I go, if not to You??! Behold, Lord, I come…”
4. A FEW QUESTIONS
to open my heart and plow my interior
soil with a plow capable of pulling up the roots of hardness and
incredulity.
a) What kind of disciple am I? Am I really willing every day to learn at the school of Jesus, to receive His teaching, which is not the doctrine of human beings but the wisdom of the Holy Spirit?
b) "This is a hard saying, who can listen to it?" Is it really the Word of the Lord that is hard or is it my heart that wants only to close itself and no longer listen?
c) "Jesus knowing in Himself…". He knows my heart and knows what is in each person (Jn 1:48; 2:25; 4:29; 10:15). How do I react to His gaze, to His voice that calls my name, to His coming into my life, to His constant knocking (Rev 3:20)? What choices do I make?
d) "It is the Spirit that gives life.” However, do I allow myself to be led like Mary (Lk 1:38) and Simeon (Lk 2:27), do I allow the Lord to take me where He wills, where He waits for me, or do I always want to decide for myself the direction of my life?
e) Do I answer Jesus' personal invitation "Come to Me! Come and follow Me!" every day, every moment, in the most diverse situations of my life, in various circumstances, in the presence of others? To whom do I go? Where do I turn to? Whose footsteps am I following?
a) What kind of disciple am I? Am I really willing every day to learn at the school of Jesus, to receive His teaching, which is not the doctrine of human beings but the wisdom of the Holy Spirit?
b) "This is a hard saying, who can listen to it?" Is it really the Word of the Lord that is hard or is it my heart that wants only to close itself and no longer listen?
c) "Jesus knowing in Himself…". He knows my heart and knows what is in each person (Jn 1:48; 2:25; 4:29; 10:15). How do I react to His gaze, to His voice that calls my name, to His coming into my life, to His constant knocking (Rev 3:20)? What choices do I make?
d) "It is the Spirit that gives life.” However, do I allow myself to be led like Mary (Lk 1:38) and Simeon (Lk 2:27), do I allow the Lord to take me where He wills, where He waits for me, or do I always want to decide for myself the direction of my life?
e) Do I answer Jesus' personal invitation "Come to Me! Come and follow Me!" every day, every moment, in the most diverse situations of my life, in various circumstances, in the presence of others? To whom do I go? Where do I turn to? Whose footsteps am I following?
5. A KEY TO THE READING
I ask the Scriptures to be my guide, to
enlighten each step, each movement, because I wish to go to Jesus. I use the
verbs He uses, the expressions He repeats, the silence of the unsaid words, to
reveal to me the way… to find Him and not someone else.
• The Word of the Lord and the love
relationship with it
In this passage, John presents the Word
of the Lord as a meeting point, the holy place for an encounter with Him. I
realize that this is the place of my decision, of ever deeper separations in my
heart and in my conscience. I realize also that the Word is a person, it is the
Lord Himself, present before me, given to me, open to me. The whole of the
bible, page after page, is an invitation, sweet, yet at the same time strong,
to meet the Word, to get to know the Promised One, the Bride who is really the
Word that comes from the kiss of love from the mouth of the Lord. The meeting
accorded is not superficial, empty, nor is it fleeting or sporadic, but
intense, full, constant, uninterrupted, because it is like the meeting between
the bride and groom. Thus does the Lord love me and give Himself to me. It is,
therefore, important to listen carefully and lovingly so that not one word may
be in vain (1 Sam 3:19); it is important to listen with the heart, with the
soul (Ps 94:8; Bar 2:31); it is important to obey in practice for a lifetime
(Mt 7:24-27; Jas 1:22-25); it is important to make a true and final decision
that will choose the Word of the Lord even to making it my sister (Prov 7:1-4)
or my bride to be taken into my home (Wis 8:2).
• Murmuring is closing one's heart
• Murmuring is closing one's heart
The theme of murmuring, of rebelling,
shakes me up and creates a crisis in me; when I read the bible, even when I
just recall it, I realize that murmuring against the Lord and His actions in
our lives is the most terrible and destructive thing that could possibly live
in my heart, because it takes me away from Him, it separates me strongly and
makes me blind, deaf and insensitive. It makes me say that He does not exist
while all the time He is very near; that He hates me when He loves me with an
eternal and faithful love (Deut 1:27)! It is the greatest and most profound
foolishness! In Exodus, Numbers and the Psalms, I come across a people of God
that weeps, complains, gets angry, murmurs, closes itself, rebels, turns away
(Ex 16:7ff; Num 14:2; 17:20ff; Ps 105:25); a hopeless, lifeless people. I
understand that this kind of situation comes about when there is no longer
dialogue with the Lord, when the contract with Him is broken, when, instead of
listening to Him and asking questions of Him, there is only murmuring, a kind
of continuous droning in the soul, in the mind, that makes me say, "Can
God supply food in the desert?" (Ps 77:19). If I murmur against my Father,
if I stop believing in His love for me, in His tenderness, that He showers me
with every good thing, I am lifeless, I am without nourishment for the everyday
journey. Or if I get angry, if I become jealous because He is good and gives
His love to all, without reserve, and I act like the Pharisees (Lk 15:2; 19:7),
then I am entirely alone and besides no longer being His child I am no longer
even brother or sister of anyone. In fact, there is a close relationship
between murmuring against God and murmuring against brothers and sisters (Phil
2:14; 1 Pt 4:9). I learn all this when I follow the trail of this word…
• The Gift of the Son of Man: the Holy Spirit
• The Gift of the Son of Man: the Holy Spirit
It seems that I see a road full of
light, traced by the Lord Jesus and almost hidden in these verses that are so
compact and overflowing in spiritual richness. The starting point lies in a
true and deep listening to His words and in welcoming them. From here we pass
on to the purification of the heart, which from a heart of stone, hard and
closed, becomes, through the tenderness of the Father, a heart of flesh, soft,
a heart that He can hurt, mold, take into His hands and hold tight, as a gift.
Yes, all this is accomplished by the words of Jesus when they come to me and
enter into me. It is only thus that I can continue on my journey, overcoming
murmurings and scandal, until I am able to see Jesus with new eyes, eyes
renewed by the Word, eyes that do not rest on superficial things, on the
hardness of the rind, but eyes that learn, every day a little more, to go
beyond and to look on high. "Then what if you were to see the Son of Man
ascending where He was before?" (v. 62). This is the welcoming of the
Spirit, gift of the Risen One, gift of the One who ascended at the right hand
of the Father, gift from on high, perfect gift (Jas 1:17). He had said,
"When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to Me" (Jn
12:32) and He draws me with the Spirit, He makes me His own with the Spirit, He
sends me in the Spirit (Jn 20:21), He strengthens me thanks to the Spirit (Acts
1:8). If I take a long look at the pages of the Gospels, I can see how the
Spirit of the Lord is the strength that dwells in each person, each reality,
because He is the eternal love of the Father, the very life of God in us. I pay
attention and dwell on the verbs and the expressions used, on the words that
follow and enlighten each other, enriching each other. I feel that I am really
immersed in living waters that gush and gurgle. I feel that I receive a new
baptism and I thank the Lord with my whole heart. "He will baptize you in
the Holy Spirit and fire" (Mt 3:11), so cries John and, as I read, this
Word comes true in me, inside me, in my whole being. I feel the Spirit speaking
in me (Mt 10:20); who, with His power, drives away from me the spirit of evil
(Mt 12:28); who fills me, as He did Jesus (Lk 4:1), John the Baptist (Lk 1:15),
the Virgin Mary (Lk 1:28,35), Elizabeth (Lk 1:41), Zachary (Lk 1:67), Simeon
(Lk 2:26), the disciples (Acts 2:4), Peter (Acts 4: 8) and so many others. I feel
and meet the Spirit who teaches me what to say (Lk 12:10); who really gives new
birth to me so that I may never die (Jn 3:5); who teaches me all things and
reminds me of all that Jesus said (Jn 14:26); who guides me towards truth (Jn
16:13); who gives me strength to witness to the Lord Jesus (Acts 1:8), to His
love for me and for everyone.
• The struggle of faith: in the Father or in the evil one?
• The struggle of faith: in the Father or in the evil one?
This passage of John's Gospel challenges
us to a great struggle, a hand-to-hand fight between the spirit and the flesh,
between the wisdom of God and human reason, between Jesus and the world. I can
see that Job was right when he said that human life on earth is a time of
temptation and a struggle (Job 7:1), because I too experience the Evil One who
tries to discourage me by creating doubts concerning the divine promises and
urging me to turn away from Jesus. He would like to send me away, tries by
every means to harden my heart, to close me, to break my faith, my love. I hear
him roaming around like a roaring lion seeking whom to devour (1 Pt 5:8), like
a tempter, a creator of divisions, an accuser, like a scoffer mocking and
repeating all the time: "Where is the promise of His coming?" (2 Pt
3:3f). I know that it is only with the arms of faith that I can win (Eph
6:10-20; 2 Cor 10:3-5), only in the strength that comes to me from the words of
my Father; hence I choose them, love them, study them, scrutinize them, learn
them by heart, repeat them and say, "Even if a whole army surrounds me, I
will not be afraid; even if enemies attack me, I will still trust in God!"
(Ps 26:3).
• Profession of faith in Jesus, Son of God
• Profession of faith in Jesus, Son of God
The appearance of Simon Peter at the end
of this passage is like a pearl set on a precious jewel, because it is he who
proclaims truth, light and salvation through his profession of faith. I gather
other passages from the Gospels, other professions of faith that help my
incredulity, because I too wish to believe and then know. I too wish to believe
and be firm (Isa 7:9): Mt 16:16; Mk 8:29; Lk 9:20; Jn 11:27).
6. A MOMENT OF SILENT PRAYER:
PSALM 18
A hymn of praise to the Word of the
Lord,
who gives wisdom and joy to the heart
who gives wisdom and joy to the heart
The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes.
Ref. Lord, You have the words of eternal life!
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever;
the ordinances of the Lord are true
and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is thy servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
Ref. Lord, You have the words of eternal life!
But who can discern his errors?
Cleanse me from hidden faults.
Keep back Thy servant also from presumptuous sins;
let them not have dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord,
my Rock and my Redeemer.
Ref. Lord, You have the words of eternal life!
reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes.
Ref. Lord, You have the words of eternal life!
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever;
the ordinances of the Lord are true
and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover by them is thy servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
Ref. Lord, You have the words of eternal life!
But who can discern his errors?
Cleanse me from hidden faults.
Keep back Thy servant also from presumptuous sins;
let them not have dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord,
my Rock and my Redeemer.
Ref. Lord, You have the words of eternal life!
7. CLOSING PRAYER
Lord, thank You for Your words that have
re-awakened in me spirit and life; thank You because You speak and creation
goes on. You overwhelm me. You still print Your image in me, Your unique
likeness. Thank You because, lovingly and patiently, You wait for me even when
I murmur, when I allow myself to be scandalized, when I fall into incredulity
or when I turn my back to You. Forgive me, Lord, for all these faults and
continue to heal me, to make me strong and happy in following You, You alone!
Lord, You ascended to where You were before, but You are still with us and do
not cease to draw each one of us to You. Draw me, Lord, and I shall run,
because I have truly believed and known that You are the Holy One of God! But,
please Lord, when I run to You, let me not run alone, let me be always open to
the companionship of my brothers and sisters; and together with them I shall
find You and shall be Your disciple all the days of my life. Amen.
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