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THE WORK OF GOD - 18TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (8/1/2021)
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Exodus 16:2-4; 12-15
Psalm 78
Ephesians 4: 17, 20-24
John 6: 24-35
THE WORK OF GOD
About two years ago, a Pew Research poll found that 69% of US Catholics did not believe in the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. I was thinking that it might be interesting to survey how many Catholics actually believe that Jesus is true God and true man. Loss of faith in the Eucharist might well be indicative of a loss of faith in the divine nature of Jesus. As Jesus says in today’s gospel: “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”
EXODUS
It seems that the Israelites grumbled and complained a lot. They even went so far as to say that it would have been better if they had stayed as slaves in Egypt—at least they had bread to eat there!
The Lord heard the grumbling and promised to “rain down bread from heaven.” He sent quail in the evening and manna in the morning. As the Responsorial, Psalm 78, has us repeat: “The Lord gave them bread from heaven.”
GOSPEL
The gospel narrative from John 6 follows upon the multiplication of loaves and fish. Jesus knows that this is the reason why the crowd is seeking him. He tells them, “Do not work for food that perishes, but for the food that will endure for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.”
When the people ask Jesus, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”, he responds, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”
Jesus promises “true bread from heaven…For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” Jesus identifies himself as the bread of life and promises that “whoever comes to me will never hunger and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” Let us take note that believing is key. Believing in Jesus as Lord and Savior is a pre-requisite for believing in his Real Presence in the Eucharist!
EPHESIANS
In the second reading, St. Paul tells us to live according to what we were taught, “as truth is in Jesus.” Paul urges us toward a renewal of life, that we should put off our former ways and be renewed in the spirit of our minds. We are to “put on the new self, created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth.” It is noteworthy how much “living in the truth we were taught” seems to be emphasized here.
LOOK BEYOND
Today’s readings remind me of a Eucharistic song from the sixties, “Look Beyond.” The verse tells us to “Look beyond the bread you eat, see your Savior and your Lord; look beyond the cup you drink, see his love poured out as blood.”
Lack of faith in Christ’s Eucharistic Real Presence by over two-thirds of US Catholics is obviously a major concern. I submit that an equally serious concern is what this obviously seems to point to - a lack of real faith in the Person and Work of Jesus. “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”
