Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

(8/25/2024) Gospel Reading: John 6:60-69

 

“You Have the Words of Everlasting Life”

 

Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life;

you have the words of everlasting life.

 

From the desk of Fr. Leo Alban Asuncion

     What a masterpiece is the human body! All the members are coordinated so that the best effect is obtained. Continually the heart sends the blood pulsing through the arteries. How faithfully the brain reacts to the least impulse! Without let-up the lungs breathe in oxygen and give out waste matter. Each organ has its own task to perform without encroaching on any of the others. The more one studies the human body, the more one marvels at it. Yet what gives it life energy, movement, purpose? The spirit in man, that life-giving principle, the soul. Without the inner spirit, the body lies lifeless. It cannot move, it cannot act. And soon it decays and turns to dust. The same holds good in the supernatural realm. It is the Spirit that gives life.          

      As long as Jesus fed the crowds, healed their ailments and showed himself interested in their wellbeing, they flocked to him, held him in greatest esteem, followed him wherever he went and wanted to proclaim him as king. But when he continued to reveal to them the deep mysteries of his divine message, the realities of the supernatural world and of his kingdom, realities which men's minds would not be able to grasp by mere human reasoning, without the help of the Spirit of God, many backed down. They lacked the gift of faith. Thus, when he revealed to them the mystery of the Eucharist, that he would give them his Body and Blood for their nourishment, they became angry and departed from him. They walked no more with him. Jesus was deserted by the large number of his one-time followers.         

     It must have been a keen disappointment for the Heart of Christ to see the crowds dwindle away, without whom he had taught so often, healed their ailments, and fed in the wilderness. Instead of gratefully accepting his offer, and trusting that they knew what he was about, they broke out in angry complaints. Then he told them frankly: What you need is the Spirit. “It is the Spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless.” Why did they not ask him for the Spirit to help them accept his words on faith? Why did they not say with the Samaritan woman: “Give me of this water so that I do not again grow thirsty.” Why did they not cry out with the father of the boy who was possessed: “I do believe. Help me to believe still more.        

     This is what is needed today: renewal in the Spirit of Christ to revitalize our faith in the Eucharist.    Only the Spirit can make us penetrate more deeply into the mystery of God's love. Day and night our Eucharistic Lord remain with us in thousands of churches and chapels all over the world especially in this Catholic land of ours. Not only does the Eucharist refresh and strengthen us for the daily battle but gives us the guarantee for a life that never ends. That life is worth striving for.

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Meditation: 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.

"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.

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.

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.

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.

   read more at: http://dailyscripture.servantsoftheword.org

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