Book of Proverbs 9,1-6. Wisdom has built her house, she has set up her seven columns; She has dressed her meat, mixed her wine, yes, she has spread her table. She has sent out her maidens; she calls from the heights out over the city: "Let whoever is simple turn in here; to him who lacks understanding, I say, Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed! Forsake foolishness that you may live; advance in the way of understanding."
Psalms 34(33) 2-3.4-5.6-7. I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad.
Glorify the LORD with me, let us together extol his name. I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. When the poor one called out, the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him.
Letter to the Ephesians 5,15-20.
Brothers and sisters: Watch carefully then how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord. And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another (in) psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 6,51-58.
Jesus said to the crowds: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us (his) flesh to eat?" Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living 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. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever."
This Sunday’s Gospel passage (cf. Jn 6:51-58) introduces us to the second part of the discourse that Jesus delivers in the Synagogue of Capernaum, after having satisfied the hunger of the great multitude with five loaves and two fish: the multiplication of the loaves. He presents himself as “the bread which came down from heaven”, the bread that gives eternal life, and he adds: “the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh” (v. 51).
This passage is decisive, and in fact it provokes the reaction of those who are listening, who begin to dispute among themselves: “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” (v. 52). When the sign of the shared bread points to its true significance, namely, self-giving to the point of sacrifice, misunderstanding arises; it leads to the actual rejection of the One whom, shortly before, they had wanted to lift up in triumph. Let us remember that Jesus had to hide because they had wanted to make him king.
Jesus continues: “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you” (v. 53). Here the blood is present together with the flesh. In biblical language, flesh and blood express concrete humanity. The people and the disciples themselves sense that Jesus invites them to enter into communion with him, to ‘eat’ him, his humanity, in order to share with him the gift of life for the world. So much for triumphs and mirages of success! It is precisely the sacrifice of Jesus who gives himself for us.
This bread of life, the sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ, comes to us freely given at the table of the Eucharist. Around the altar we find what spiritually feeds us and quenches our thirst today and for eternity. Each time we participate in the Holy Mass, in a certain sense, we anticipate heaven on earth, because from the Eucharistic sustenance, the Body and Blood of Jesus, we learn what eternal life is. It is living for the Lord: “he who eats me will live because of me” (v. 57), the Lord says. The Eucharist shapes us so that we live not only for ourselves but for the Lord and for our brothers and sisters. Life’s happiness and eternity depend on our ability to render fruitful the evangelical love we receive in the Eucharist.
As in that time, today too Jesus repeats to each of us: “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you” (v. 53). Brothers and sisters, it is not about material sustenance, but a living and life-giving bread, which conveys the very life of God. When we receive Communion we receive the very life of God. To have this life it is necessary to nourish ourselves of the Gospel and of the love of our brothers and sisters. Before Jesus’ invitation to nourish ourselves of his Body and of his Blood, we might feel the need to dispute and to resist, as did those listeners whom today’s Gospel spoke of. This happens when we struggle to model our existence after that of Jesus, to act according to his criteria and not according to worldly criteria. By nourishing ourselves of this food we can enter into full harmony with Christ, with his sentiments, with his behaviour. This is so important: to go to Mass and partake in Communion, because receiving Communion is receiving this living Christ, who transforms us within and prepares us for heaven.
May the Virgin Mary support our aim to enter into communion with Jesus Christ, by nourishing ourselves of his Eucharist, so as to become in our turn bread broken for our brothers and sisters.
FAUSTI - John, in his own style, does not recount the institution of the Eucharist, but prefers instead to make its profound mystery understood, making explicit what the other Gospels leave implicit. Eating in fact means assuming, putting in and assimilating food. To believe in Jesus, to adhere to Him and to love Him, here it is called "eating". Man becomes what he eats, or rather, what he loves. The Son of God loved us to the point of being devoured by His Love for us and becoming the Son of man raised up; we, loving and eating Him, become children of God. The text has two levels of reading. A second reading is always possible, because each Word says something else, and, in the end, the Other says something. This is especially true for the Gospel of John, who, instead of telling the story of the Transfiguration, makes it the lens through which to look at everything else. In fact, he observes with the eye and the new heart of those who love, that in everything he sees the Face of the Beloved. This vision, far from being visionary, is the most real of all, because it is made in the light of Him who is Light and Life of all that exists. The first level of reading is also understandable for the listeners of Jesus. Affirming that He is the Bread of Life and that His Flesh is the true manna of the New Exodus, Jesus attributes to Himself the prerogatives of the Word. Thus it is revealed how the fulfillment of what the Exodus and the Covenant, and even before that the Creation, mean: God's plan to communicate His Life to man. Eating and assimilating Him, the Son loved by the Father who loves his brothers and sisters, is the New Law. For this reason, those who do not accept Him, do not carry out God's works and do not receive Life. The second level of reading is transparent to the Christian reader: it is a real homily on the Eucharist. His Flesh is not metaphorical: it is really His Body given for us. Whoever eats His Flesh, True Bread, and feeds on Him, receives the supreme gift of God: the Body and Blood of the Son, who puts Him in Communion of Life with Him and with the Father. The Son loved and sent to his brothers and sisters, is all "from" and "from" the Father: he lives thanks to Him, to Him and for Him. He came to communicate to us, as our Life, this relationship with Him, which is His Essence as Son.
Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
RispondiElimina1st reading
Book of Proverbs 9,1-6.
Wisdom has built her house, she has set up her seven columns;
She has dressed her meat, mixed her wine, yes, she has spread her table.
She has sent out her maidens; she calls from the heights out over the city:
"Let whoever is simple turn in here; to him who lacks understanding, I say,
Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed!
Forsake foolishness that you may live; advance in the way of understanding."
Psalms 34(33)
2-3.4-5.6-7.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
Letter to
the Ephesians 5,15-20.
Brothers and sisters: Watch carefully then how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise,
making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil.
Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord.
And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,
addressing one another (in) psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts,
giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ
according to Saint John 6,51-58.
Jesus said to the crowds:
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."
The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us (his) flesh to eat?"
Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.
For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.
Just as the living 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.
This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever."
POPE FRANCIS
RispondiEliminaANGELUS 19 August 2018
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Good morning!
This Sunday’s Gospel passage (cf. Jn 6:51-58) introduces us to the second part of the discourse that Jesus delivers in the Synagogue of Capernaum, after having satisfied the hunger of the great multitude with five loaves and two fish: the multiplication of the loaves. He presents himself as “the bread which came down from heaven”, the bread that gives eternal life, and he adds: “the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh” (v. 51).
This passage is decisive, and in fact it provokes the reaction of those who are listening, who begin to dispute among themselves: “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” (v. 52). When the sign of the shared bread points to its true significance, namely, self-giving to the point of sacrifice, misunderstanding arises; it leads to the actual rejection of the One whom, shortly before, they had wanted to lift up in triumph. Let us remember that Jesus had to hide because they had wanted to make him king.
Jesus continues: “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you” (v. 53). Here the blood is present together with the flesh. In biblical language, flesh and blood express concrete humanity. The people and the disciples themselves sense that Jesus invites them to enter into communion with him, to ‘eat’ him, his humanity, in order to share with him the gift of life for the world. So much for triumphs and mirages of success! It is precisely the sacrifice of Jesus who gives himself for us.
This bread of life, the sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ, comes to us freely given at the table of the Eucharist. Around the altar we find what spiritually feeds us and quenches our thirst today and for eternity. Each time we participate in the Holy Mass, in a certain sense, we anticipate heaven on earth, because from the Eucharistic sustenance, the Body and Blood of Jesus, we learn what eternal life is. It is living for the Lord: “he who eats me will live because of me” (v. 57), the Lord says. The Eucharist shapes us so that we live not only for ourselves but for the Lord and for our brothers and sisters. Life’s happiness and eternity depend on our ability to render fruitful the evangelical love we receive in the Eucharist.
As in that time, today too Jesus repeats to each of us: “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you” (v. 53). Brothers and sisters, it is not about material sustenance, but a living and life-giving bread, which conveys the very life of God. When we receive Communion we receive the very life of God. To have this life it is necessary to nourish ourselves of the Gospel and of the love of our brothers and sisters. Before Jesus’ invitation to nourish ourselves of his Body and of his Blood, we might feel the need to dispute and to resist, as did those listeners whom today’s Gospel spoke of. This happens when we struggle to model our existence after that of Jesus, to act according to his criteria and not according to worldly criteria. By nourishing ourselves of this food we can enter into full harmony with Christ, with his sentiments, with his behaviour. This is so important: to go to Mass and partake in Communion, because receiving Communion is receiving this living Christ, who transforms us within and prepares us for heaven.
May the Virgin Mary support our aim to enter into communion with Jesus Christ, by nourishing ourselves of his Eucharist, so as to become in our turn bread broken for our brothers and sisters.
FAUSTI - John, in his own style, does not recount the institution of the Eucharist, but prefers instead to make its profound mystery understood, making explicit what the other Gospels leave implicit. Eating in fact means assuming, putting in and assimilating food.
RispondiEliminaTo believe in Jesus, to adhere to Him and to love Him, here it is called "eating".
Man becomes what he eats, or rather, what he loves.
The Son of God loved us to the point of being devoured by His Love for us and becoming the Son of man raised up; we, loving and eating Him, become children of God.
The text has two levels of reading. A second reading is always possible, because each Word says something else, and, in the end, the Other says something. This is especially true for the Gospel of John, who, instead of telling the story of the Transfiguration, makes it the lens through which to look at everything else.
In fact, he observes with the eye and the new heart of those who love, that in everything he sees the Face of the Beloved.
This vision, far from being visionary, is the most real of all, because it is made in the light of Him who is Light and Life of all that exists.
The first level of reading is also understandable for the listeners of Jesus.
Affirming that He is the Bread of Life and that His Flesh is the true manna of the New Exodus, Jesus attributes to Himself the prerogatives of the Word.
Thus it is revealed how the fulfillment of what the Exodus and the Covenant, and even before that the Creation, mean: God's plan to communicate His Life to man.
Eating and assimilating Him, the Son loved by the Father who loves his brothers and sisters, is the New Law.
For this reason, those who do not accept Him, do not carry out God's works and do not receive Life.
The second level of reading is transparent to the Christian reader: it is a real homily on the Eucharist.
His Flesh is not metaphorical: it is really His Body given for us.
Whoever eats His Flesh, True Bread, and feeds on Him, receives the supreme gift of God: the Body and Blood of the Son, who puts Him in Communion of Life with Him and with the Father.
The Son loved and sent to his brothers and sisters, is all "from" and "from" the Father: he lives thanks to Him, to Him and for Him.
He came to communicate to us, as our Life, this relationship with Him, which is His Essence as Son.