The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to connect the reality of our journey for a good life to the promise of the fullness of life through our acceptance of Jesus as the Bread of Life.
The reading from the First Book of Kings describes Elijah’s flight to Horeb.
* [19:1–21] The story of Elijah’s journey to Mount Horeb begins as a flight from danger, but takes a surprising turn. The prophet makes his solitary way to the mountain where the Lord had appeared to Moses and the Israelites (“Horeb” is an alternate name for “Sinai”). Like Moses on the holy mountain, Elijah experiences a theophany and receives a commission. (1 Kings, CHAPTER 19 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 34 offers praise for Deliverance from Trouble.
* [Psalm 34] A thanksgiving in acrostic form, each line beginning with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. In this Psalm one letter is missing and two are in reverse order. The psalmist, fresh from the experience of being rescued (Ps 34:5, 7), can teach the “poor,” those who are defenseless, to trust in God alone (Ps 34:4, 12). God will make them powerful (Ps 34:5–11) and give them protection (Ps 34:12–22). (Psalms, PSALM 34 | USCCB, n.d.)
The reading from the Letter to the Ephesians outlines rules for the New Life.
* [4:25–6:20] For similar exhortations to a morally good life in response to God’s gift of faith, see notes on Rom 12:1–13:14 and Gal 5:13–26. (Ephesians, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB, n.d.)
* [5:1] Imitators of God: in forgiving (Eph 4:32) and in loving (as exhibited in how Christ loved us). (Ephesians, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus continues the Bread of Life Discourse.
* [6:35–59] Up to Jn 6:50 “bread of life” is a figure for God’s revelation in Jesus; in Jn 6:51–58, the eucharistic theme comes to the fore. There may thus be a break between Jn 6:50–51. (John, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)
Tom Quinn comments that Jesus does not couch his message in a parable; he directly tells us who and what he is.
He is “the Living Bread that came down from Heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever.” Neither Elijah’s God-given bread nor the manna that fed the Israelites in the desert allowed those who ate it eternal life. Jesus tells us that “The bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” May we with this promise and spiritual nourishment continue our journey toward God. (Quinn, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Studying the Scriptures with humility,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"My ambition as a youth was to apply to the study of the Holy Scriptures all the refinement of dialectics. I did so, but without the humility of the true searcher. I was supposed to knock at the door so that it would open for me. Instead I was pushing it closed, trying to understand in pride what is only learned in humility. However, the all-merciful Lord lifted me up and kept me safe." (excerpt from Sermon 51,6) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on 1 Kings 19:4-8 comments that at some point, we may feel we have come to the end of our rope. Trials or grief, sickness or disappointment can rob us of our hope. Like Elijah, we might tell the Lord, “Enough!”
Today as you go to Mass, come to Jesus with an open, sincere heart. Don’t be afraid to be honest with him; tell him about your needs and your burdens. Then, as you receive his Body and Blood, receive his strength and hope. Even if you can’t receive Jesus sacramentally today, he is still with you. He is filling you with the grace you need to continue on. He will answer your cry for help. He will never give up on you!
“Thank you, Lord, for sustaining me. Jesus, I trust in you!” (Meditation on 1 Kings 19:4-8, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments on the depression suffered by Elijah as he contemplated his execution under the broom tree on his way to Mount Horeb as instructed by God. The Letter to the Ephesians was written to a mostly Gentile community urging living with the gifts of the Spirit of love and service as opposed to attitudes of anger. Friar Jude reminds us of the connection of the “Word Made Flesh” as “sarx” in the prologue of John’s Gospel to the Real Presence in the Eucharist that the Gospel begins to present today.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Julian of Norwich (1343–c. 1416), a medieval mystic from England. Julian’s interpretation of her God-experience is unlike the religious views common for much of history up to her time. It’s not based in sin, shame, guilt, or fear of God or hell. Instead, it’s full of delight, freedom, intimacy, and cosmic hope. Mirabai Starr offers this translation of Julian’s encouraging account:
For our beloved God is so good, so gentle and courteous that he can never banish anyone forever….
I saw and understood that there is a divine will within every soul that would never give in to sin. This will is so good that it could never have evil intent. Rather, its impulse to do good has no limits, and so the soul remains ever-good in the eyes of God. [1]
The soul is that part of us that has never doubted and that has always said yes to God. It’s in everyone. Even in those moments when we are filled with negativity, there’s a little yes that holds on. That’s what mystics like Julian of Norwich have become aware of and the place to which they return. They trust that infinite yes that shines within all of us. (Rohr, n.d.)
On our journey to an intimate relationship with God, we are grateful for the comfort in our times of despair, alert to the character traits of the faithful, and open to the fullness of the Bread of Life.
References
Ephesians, CHAPTER 4 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 11, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/4?30
Ephesians, CHAPTER 5 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 11, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/ephesians/5
John, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 11, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/6?41
Meditation on 1 Kings 19:4-8. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved August 11, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/08/11/1045557/
1 Kings, CHAPTER 19 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 11, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/1kings/19?4
Psalms, PSALM 34 | USCCB. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved August 11, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/34?2
Quinn, T. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved August 11, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/081124.html
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Daily Meditations — Center for Action and Contemplation. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved August 11, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-showing-of-love/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). If Anyone Eats of This Bread, He Will Live for Ever. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved August 11, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=aug11
No comments:
Post a Comment