19th Sunday of the Year, B – August 11, 2024.
Readings: 1 Kings 19:4-8; Ps 34:2-3.4-5.6-7.8-9 (R.9a); Ephesians 4:30-5:2; Gospel – John 6:41-51.
The first reading recalls how the Prophet Elijah was hungry on his way to Horeb and wanted to kill himself, but God’s angel fed him with scones and water. In the second reading, St. Paul urges us not to bear grudges against others, lose our temper, raise our voices, call each other names, or allow any sort of spitefulness. This points to living a Eucharistic life. The Gospel reveals how Jesus says, “I am the bread of life – the living bread which has come down from heaven.” We must invest in the right courses – taking our spiritual life seriously. At every Mass, you are called. Will you get up and eat?
Introduction
Beloved in Christ, because of the centrality of the Holy Eucharist in the Catholic Church, we are presented with yet another opportunity to reflect on the importance of that sacrament in our lives and the life of the Christian community. The physical nourishment that God provides Prophet Elijah within the first reading prepares us for the message of the gospel wherein Christ gives his flesh for the life of the world. This reflection is predicated on the role of the Eucharist in our lives as food for the journey.
Background & Summary of the Readings
The first reading (1 Kings 19:4-8) recalls how the Prophet Elijah was hungry on his way to Horeb and wanted to kill himself, but God’s angel fed him with scones and water. Strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights to the mountain of the Lord.
In the second reading (Ephesians 4:30-5:2) St. Paul urges us not to bear grudges against others, lose our temper, raise our voice, call each other names, or allow any sort of spitefulness. This points to living a Eucharistic life. He advised that we should be friends with one another and embrace forgiveness as God has forgiven us in Christ who offered himself as a fragrant offering to make us children of the father whom he loves.
The Gospel (John 6:41-51) reveals how Jesus says, “I am the bread of life – the living bread which has come down from heaven.” Indeed, an exposé on the Holy Eucharist. He promises that “Anyone who eats this bread will live forever,” stressing that “the bread that I shall give is my flesh for the life of the world.” Jesus insists that this is not like the bread their ancestors ate in the desert and died. He maintains that this is the bread that gives eternal life to anyone who partakes of it. The question is: Do we see the Eucharist as an indispensable part of our spiritual life?
Investing in the Right Courses
A man went to service his car. It required a change of engine oil, oil filter, wheel boris, four tires, rim, wheel balancing and alignment, ejector cleaner, fuel-preserver, and workmanship. The cost was £1500,000. While he was about to pay the money, he received the sad news of the demise of two of his engineer friends. One was in his 40s and the other, in his 50s. He learned that they complained of simple symptoms that eventually led to their untimely deaths.
Realising how they lived their lives, something struck him: “I am about to pay a fortune to fix my car, yet I have not been investing in my spiritual life. My close friends are dying and here am I investing in material things without investing in my spiritual life.” It was then that it dawned on him that God’s gifts are free. He realised that he didn’t need to pay for the sacraments – confession and Holy Eucharist which he had neglected for years.
Pastoral Lessons
- Get up and eat: We are urged to get up and eat from the table of the Lord to be empowered by the power of the Holy Spirit to drive through the bumpy and rocky road of life in our fight against evil forces.
- Pour your sentiments to God: The journey of Prophet Elijah reminds us that as we match towards heaven, our pilgrim journey will be marked by trials, tribulations, temptations, and scarcity but when we pour our sentiments to God, he will supply not only food or water but all that we may ever ask or imagine (Cf. Ephesians 3:20).
- Be kind and tender-hearted: St. Paul urges us not to bear grudges against others, lose our temper, raise our voice, call each other names, or allow any sort of spitefulness – this points to living a Eucharistic life.
- Undertake a thorough spiritual check-up: Christians are reminded about the need for doing a comprehensive spiritual check-up in terms of assessing how many times they have forgiven those who have wronged them, read the bible, or engaged in both mental and vocal prayer – If our hearts, eyes, ears, hands, and legs cannot glorify God, we have missed the mark.
- Invest in spiritual things: To diagnose and upgrade our system spiritually, we need to answer the question, “Your vehicle or your spiritual life?” – this should poke us to ponder about how much we spend on things like car maintenance while neglecting to invest in spiritual things (our souls).
Summary Lines
- The first reading recalls how the Prophet Elijah was hungry on his way to Horeb and wanted to kill himself, but God’s angel fed him with scones and water.
- In the second reading, St. Paul urges us not to bear grudges against others, lose our temper, raise our voices, call each other names, or allow any sort of spitefulness – this points to living a Eucharistic life.
- He advised that we should be friends with one another and embrace forgiveness as God has forgiven us in Christ.
- The Gospel reveals how Jesus says “I am the bread of life – the living bread which has come down from heaven.”
- He maintains that this is the bread that gives eternal life to anyone who partakes of it.
Conclusion
Like the lead story, we must invest in the right courses – taking our spiritual life seriously. We are encouraged to make concerted efforts to receive the Holy Eucharist daily. Like Elijah, God is calling us to rise and ascend his throne of grace to commune with him. Since this is the bread that endures to eternal life, it means that we ought to celebrate the sacrament and communicate in perpetuity – in memorial of him. At Mass, the priest says: “This is the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to the supper of the lamb.” At every Mass, you are called. Will you get up and eat? Have a blessed Sunday celebration!
