Jesus, the Splendour of God's Life

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time: 08 August 2021

Readings: 1 Kings 19:4-8; Psalm 34:2-9; Ephesians 4:30-5:2; John 6:41-51

(Jesus the Bread of Life, Mosaic by Fr Marko Rupnik, SJ)

To listen to my audio reflections, please click here

1. Let not others determine our identity

The question of identity is a very important component of our life. Identity is determined by one's words and actions. Perhaps people may have their own perceptions while determining someone's identity. Often we get carried away by what others say. Unfortunately, we lose our self-confidence when others put forward their bad perceptions about us. When someone criticizes and identifies us with something negative, we lose confidence in us. All the more we develop a sense of low self-esteem as well. If someone suffers from these kinds of maladies then one should look at Jesus and get inspiration from him. The murmurings of people should not be a reason to fail us. 

St John's Gospel is very compelling in showing us how Jesus' identity was formed. Moreover, the Gospel writer articulates even though Jesus is a Son of God, the Word made flesh on this earth yet he had to go through all the ordeals and struggles just like any other human person. In spite of Jesus' great miracles, signs and wonders, now and then Jesus is questioned. In the passage from the Gospel of John, we find Jesus facing skepticism and criticism from the Hebrew leaders and from his own people. Moreover, his identity as real Messiah is doubted, hated and questioned in a very malicious way. Jesus in all his struggles shows the deterrent and comes out successfully in pointing at the higher things and wins over the people. In fact, in Jesus, we see a great capacity to face trouble with courage, disappointment with cheerfulness and trial with humility. 

2. Jesus as the bread of life is the purpose and meaning of our life

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people." This is what exactly happens to Jesus. In spite of seeing the great things Jesus performed, people begin to discuss among themselves, “is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” (John 6:42). The small minds in his hometown are busy with petty things and fail to recognize the greatness of Jesus. Lord's discourse on Bread of Life has any effect on them. They lack faith. Interestingly, Jesus does not get discouraged by the words of his townspeople instead Jesus begins to quote the scriptures where it is written about him: ‘And they shall all be taught by God' (John 6:45). Jesus knows for certain who he is.

Jesus continues to teach people on the bread of life. In fact, Jesus pursues his discourse on a higher level where he awakens in them the sense of God's presence amidst them in the form of bread. In fact, it is not the food that their ancestors ate in the wilderness in the form of Manna but real food of life which would lead one to God. Jesus offers himself as the perfect gift to the Father by giving himself to others as a way to God. In the sacrifice of his body and blood, Jesus gives life to the world. He gives meaning and purpose to our flesh when we unite ourselves to his sacrifice made present again sacramentally in the Eucharist and offered to us as our food for eternal life.  In other words, those who put into practice what Jesus is then the person will have salvation, an eternity where he or she will have the possibility of living with Jesus and the Father in heaven. 

3. God sends his angels of good time at the right moment

One of the beautiful things Jesus does is to bring awakening among people a consciousness where they can think beyond the usual physical food. In fact, Jesus asks them to think about spiritual food which is eternal, lasting, comprehensive, and life-giving. In our life to we need people who can bring such awakening to realize that there are greater things that we have to look for. We see this coming real in the life of prophet Elizah where the angel of the Lord brings in him an awakening. Elizah receives support and encouragement in his terrible tiredness, discouragement and threat on his life 1 Kings 19:4-8. When the prophet looks for death, God gives him life and strength to walk forty days and forty nights without a stop or rest. Moreover, the messenger of God reorients Elizah onto a pilgrimage to a holy mountain where he can meet God. God nourishes towards fulfilling a particular purpose or mission. We might like to ask who are those people who come into our lives as angels of good time? Don't you think they are all God sent?

The God whom we worship is a God who empowers us. He is a God who doesn't want us to fail. He is a God who feeds us, nourishes us not with simple passing things but those things which would give real life and that too life in abundance. Because of the Christian faith, we know where we come from and where we are going as well as how to reach our destination. Sometimes we may feel like Elizah in today’s First Reading. We want to lie down and die, keenly aware of our failures—that we seem to be getting no better at doing what God wants of us. However, God knows what is best for us. Thus as a heavenly gift, He comes to us with a renewed command to get up and continue our journey which we began in Baptism to the mountain of God. He will give us the bread of life, the strength and grace we need and for He is the source of abundance.

Questions for reflections:

1. "No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father." How does it feel to hear these words of Jesus?

2. Bread nourishes, sustains and enables us to grow. What and whom do you need in your own life, day by day, to keep you going?

3. Can you remember a time when a simple piece of bread was just exactly what you needed? Let that memory come alive again for you now.

Prayer: Lord our God, give me each day the wisdom to see which things are important, and which things are not. Show me how best to use the time and talents you have given me. Help me to use all my opportunities wisely, that I may share, through service to others, the good gifts I have received from you.         Dear Lord, Guide me in a spirit of gratitude for the fulfillment that the Spirit brings. Help me not to fall victim to shortcomings and frustrations. Keep me from the temptation of engaging in “armchair” criticism. Strengthen my awe of God’s transformative power as I look forward. This I ask in Jesus' name. AMEN.

A kind appeal to you and your friends for signatures. For many years I have been associated with Joseph Naik Vaz Institue in Berkeley, California. Now the Institute is petitioning to His Holiness Pope Francis to declare St Joseph Vaz the apostle of Canara and Sri Lanka, and the first native saint of India as the PATRON SAINT OF FIRST RESPONDERS because of his work of taking care of victims of deadly infectious smallpox in 17th century Kandy, and most importantly, as a model of heroic service in our own Covid times. Please SIGN OUR PETITION at this link https://josephnaikvaz.org/