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FOOD FOR THE JOURNEY - 19TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (8/8/2021)
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1 Kings 19:4-8
Psalm 34
Ephesians 4:30-5:2
John 6:41-51
FOOD FOR THE JOURNEY
It’s no big secret that we need nourishment in order to stay alive. All the more do we need it if we are doing something strenuous, like a long hike (as Elijah found out). The Holy Eucharist is the food the Lord provides to nourish us as we make our way through this pilgrim land. It is the seed of eternal life, planted within us now, which will come to full fruition in eternity.
FIRST KINGS
Our first reading finds the prophet Elijah fleeing from the wicked queen Jezebel. He was discouraged, tired and afraid. Through an angel God provides a hearth cake and a jug of water. As he lay down to rest again, the angel urges him on, “Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you!”
Elijah ate and drank and, on the strength of that nourishment, walked for forty days and nights to “the mountain of God, Horeb.” God gave Elijah food for his journey just as he provides for us through the Eucharist for our journey through this “vale of tears.” The Responsorial, Psalm 34, encourages us to “Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.”
GOSPEL
Today’s gospel is the third of the five readings from John 6 about the Bread of Life. Although this takes place in a synagogue at Capernaum, some distance from Nazareth, reference is made to Jesus as being “the son of Joseph.” The crowd asks, “Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” This would seem to indicate that some fellow Nazarenes were among the followers there.
Jesus speaks about God his Father, saying that no one can come to him unless the Father draw him. He then quotes Isaiah 54:13, “They shall all be taught by God,” and says that those who listen to the Father and learn from him will come to Jesus.
What is obvious in this passage is the connection between the “bread from heaven” and eternal life. Jesus promises resurrection on the last day. He says that he who believes has eternal life. Jesus says that the one who eats the bread he will give will never die but will live forever. The bread that Jesus gives is his flesh for the life of the world. The Eucharist is indeed our food for our journey in this life, culminating in eternal life.
EPHESIANS
Our second reading, as in past weeks, continues to be taken from Ephesians. St. Paul cautions against “grieving the Holy Spirit.” He wants all bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, slander, and all malice removed. Instead, Paul urges kindness, compassion, forgiveness “as God has forgiven you in Christ.” We need to love others as imitators of Christ, who loved us to the end.
BREAD OF ANGELS
The Holy Eucharist has inspired many beautiful hymns and prayers, a number of them composed by St. Thomas Aquinas. Among these would be the exquisite “Panis Angelicus.” Admittedly, there is no comparison to hearing the sung version of the Latin original, but here is the English translation:
The angelic bread (bread of angels)
Becomes bread of a man.
The bread of heaven
Gives an end to all figures (types, symbols).
O wonderful thing!
A poor, servile and humble (person)
Eats the (body of) the Lord.
