Sunday, August 19, 2012

 

20TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – B

AUGUST 19, 2012
20TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – B

Prv 9:1-6 / Eph 5:15-20 / Jn 6:51-58

PROVERBS 9:1-6
Wisdom has built her house set upon seven pillars; she has slaughtered her beasts, prepared her wine and laid her table. Next, she sent her servants to call from the central square of the city, "Pass by here, you who are fools." To the senseless she says, "Come, eat and drink of the bread and wine I have prepared. Give up your foolishness and you will live; take the straight path of discernment."

EPHESIANS 5:15-20
Pay attention to how you behave. Do not live as the unwise do, but as responsible per sons. Try to make good use of the present time, because these days are evil. So do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is. Do not get drunk: wine leads to levity; but be filled with the Holy Spirit. Gather together to pray with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and celeb rate the Lord in your heart, giving thanks to God the Father in the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord, always and for everything.

JOHN 6:51-58
I am the living bread which has come from heaven; whoever eats of this bread will live forever. The bread I shall give is my flesh, and I will give it for the life of the world." The Jews were arguing among themselves, "How can this man give us flesh to eat?" So Jesus replied, "Truly, I say to you, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. My flesh is really food, and my blood is truly drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood, live in me, and I in them. Just as the Father, who is life, sent me, and I have life from the Father, so whoever eats me will have life from me. This is the bread which came from heaven; not like that of your ancestors, who ate and later died. Those who eat this bread will live forever."

REFLECTION
In our Gospel, the words "eat" and "drink" are repeated many times. John's Chapter 6 is indeed about "eating and sustenance." It is about the Holy Eucharist.

When we eat, our body assimilates the food for nourishment. We become what we eat. In the Eucharist, when we eat the body of Christ, we are transformed inside and we gain eternal life! "Just as the Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me." (John 6:57) Pope Benedict XVI once said, "The Eucharist is a dynamic Presence that grasps us and makes us His own." In the Eucharistic celebration, we receive Jesus, saving us now and making us fully united with him. Such saving presence of Jesus in the Eucharist is offered to all, but without faith, the saving grace of the Eucharist evades us.

For the past three weeks, our Sunday Gospel readings have revolved around Jesus offering a different manna to the Jews. After the multiplication of bread, Jesus offered his body as the bread from heaven – food to eat. Unfortunately, we are not totally attracted to this bread. In the midst of the more alluring options being offered by the world, many of us prefer the bread and ignore what Jesus is offering: union with him and the Father and the promise of eternal life.

We do recognize the necessity of the material things in our life, but anything excessive will not bring good to us. Moderation in eating rich foods plus our deliberate decision to eat fish and vegetables will bring us health and long life. In the same way, dreaming of a beautiful house, money, cars, and other luxuries is natural and commendable. But if our whole life revolves around these things and we forget God, we may end up gaining the world but losing our souls (Mark 8:36).

Alexander the Great, Napoleon, the Romans and the Egyptians established powerful empires that have disappeared; but the Sacrament of the Eucharist that Jesus instituted remains with us. Believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. Spiritual nourishment is always available to those who believe in Jesus as the bread of life. Eat all you can! It's a guaranteed "soul satisfying experience." In the Eucharist, we eat to satisfy our souls. For without the Eucharistic meal, we are incomplete.

A survey says that only 10% of Catholics attend Mass regularly. A good number of us go to Mass out of obligation and not out of devotion. We should examine and ask ourselves: Do we look forward to attending Mass? Is it an obligation or a devotion to me? What is the quality of my participation in the Mass? Do we feel incomplete without receiving communion? Do we have a "Eucharistic hunger"?

PRAYER REQUESTS
We pray …
… for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn.
… for the speedy recovery and healing of
- Fr. Ismael Zuloaga, SJ
- Kathy
- Derek & Tina (WA), Denise (TX), Kristen (MS), Jack, Bob, Tom B, Linda O (TN), Mary Ann M (OH), Cheryl, Delores, Mary Ann, Luke, Ben & Nancy
- Virgilio D. Abapo
- Eriberta Calvario
- Cipriano Maribojoc
… for the personal intentions of
- Rita & Pam, Gene L & Eugene R
- Maria Liza Maribojoc-Espinoza
… for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary.
- Birthday: Juan E. Bonafe, S.J.
- Birthday: Sr Francesca Jhian
- Birthday: Luisa R. Opelanio
- Birthday: Ma. Consuelo F. Bate
- In Memoriam (+): Buenasenso Sy (Jan 27, 1934--Aug 19, 2008)
… for families who are in need of healing
… for world peace and reconciliation.

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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