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 20^th SUNDAY, YEAR B: HOMILY BY FR. JUSTIN ADIELE

THEME: “THE BREAD FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO STAY ALIVE”

INTRODUCTION:

In Piers Paul work; “Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors”, he narrated a very touching real life story. On October 12, 1972, Uruguayan rugby players were on an airplane to Chile for a tournament, but their plane crashed on the snow-capped Andes Mountains. Out of the forty passengers, only a handful survived. Lost in the snowy Andes Mountains for two months, when all food supplies were exhausted, the weaker players who sensed that their death was near, begged their other companions to eat their flesh after they were dead. Surviving on the flesh of their friends, the few whom remained alive, tearfully narrated this story of how their friends wanted them to survive by consuming their flesh.

This is the fourth Sunday in a row that Jesus continued to teach about the value of the Eucharist; His own, Flesh and Blood, given for those who want to stay alive. Unlike the heroes of Andes who offered their flesh for the life of their friends at death, Jesus offered us his own flesh while He was still very much alive. Christ’s own Body and Blood gives life, saves life, and extends our life to eternal life. He has given us His own Flesh and Blood for our survival in a lasting and permanent way in the Holy Eucharist.

 

THE FIRST READING (PROV. 9: 1 – 6)

In the first reading, we can deduce that Jesus is that Wisdom of God calling and inviting us his friends to come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. He has set up for us the seven pillars of the sacraments which the Eucharist is the center table that holds the other sacraments in a balance. It is only one who truly loves you will invites you to a special dinner like the Eucharist the food of Angels.

 

THE SECOND READING (EPH. 5: 15 – 20)

In the second reading, St. Paul admonished us not to be unwise or foolish or get drunk with wine; that is not the essence of the Eucharist nor the will of God. The Eucharist is a holy meal, taking while giving thanks, singing psalms and spiritual songs to the Lord with all our hearts. This is why the Eucharist has also been described as a special prayer and thanksgiving to God. When we gather to offer it, everyone who is wise and knows God’s will, must join their voices and hearts in the Eucharistic songs and thanksgiving to God.

 

THE GOSPEL READING (JN. 6: 51 – 58)

All through the gospel reading, Jesus associated the bread that He will give with life; not just earthly life, but eternal life. Whoever eats the flesh of the son of man and drinks his blood has eternal life; says Jesus. Simply put, the Eucharist is for those who want stay eternally alive; that is, those who want to have life abundantly here and here after.

 

CONCLUSION

Brethren, Jesus continues to invite us to the table of the Eucharist where he has offered us his Flesh and Blood as a lifesaving and life giving bread. More than the flesh and blood of the dead teammates in our introductory story offered over a short period of time to save (keep alive) a handful of friends, and offered only as a last resort; Jesus rather offered his own Flesh and Blood as our first, present and continuous/long term lifesaving/life giving bread for many. Pope Pius X in his decree ‘Sacra Tridentina Synodus’ of 20th December, 1905, on frequent and daily reception of Holy Communion, exhorts us that; “Frequent communion is the shortest way to secure the salvation of every individual man as well as that of society.” Frequent communion should be open to all the faithful. The Eucharist is not just offered to keep alive a handful of friends over a short time, but offered to keep alive the whole company of believers in Christ Jesus all through their life time and into eternity.

 

Happy Sunday!

Fr. Justin