19^TH SUNDAY, YEAR B: HOMILY BY FR. JUSTIN ADIELE

THEME: “NEARER TO THE EUCHARIST, NEARER TO GOD”

INTRODUCTION:

One of the most prominent converts to the Catholic faith of the last century was Cardinal Henry Newman of England; a highly paid leader of the Anglican Church. Up to the last hour before his conversion and reception into the Catholic Church, his friends continued to persuade him not to take the step. As a last push to dissuade him from joining the Catholic faith, his friends reminded him to think of what he will lose or forfeit if he leaves the Anglican Church; he will forfeit his income of four thousand pounds per year (about $20,000 that time). But to this last plea, Newman replied; “what are four thousand Pounds when compared to one Holy Communion!” We can also say today that one Holy Communion brings us nearer to God than four thousand Pounds.

 

THE FIRST READING (1 KG. 19: 4 – 8)

In the first reading, the Eucharist is prefigured in the bread God sent down from heaven for Elijah to eat. God invited Elijah and said to him; “arise and eat, else the journey will be too great for you.” Elijah ate and drank and walked in the strength of the food/bread for forty days and forty nights. In the Eucharist also lies an indefatigable strength for our spiritual and life journey. It is also God who gives and invites us to the Eucharist, lest our journey will be too difficult. Like Elijah, we should accept God’s offer and invitation to the Eucharist, knowing too well that God has always meant well for us no matter what we are passing through like Elijah.

 

THE SECOND READING (EPH. 4: 30 – 5: 2)

In the second reading, we can deduce that if we have decided to accept God’s offer and invitation to the Eucharist; if we have accepted to draw nearer to Him, there are certain things we must put away from our lives in order to receive the Eucharist in a worthy manner. St. Paul tells us to put away every bitterness, wrath, anger, slander, malice and un-forgiveness against one another; and put on kindness and love which is the fulfilment of all the commandments.

 

THE GOSPEL READING (JN. 6: 4 – 51)

In the gospel reading, we heard Jesus declare Himself as the Bread which came down from heaven; as the bread of life (everlasting life). And if we are drawn to him our Eucharist, we are also drawn to the Father who sent him, and he will raise us up on the last day as he promised. The Eucharist is Jesus Himself, the Bread of life. We must never find excuses not to accept Jesus’ offer of his Flesh and Blood in the Eucharist as the Jews did; is not Jesus the son of Joseph the carpenter; how does he now say he came down from heaven. We must never underestimate or cheaply write off the Eucharist in our lives. We must never consider the Eucharist an ordinary, ignoble bread/matter as the Jews considered Jesus an ordinary, ignoble carpenter’s son that will not amount to anything. The Eucharist carries the pledge of everlasting life and should be taken serious in our life.

 

CONCLUSION

Like Cardinal Henry Newman, nothing can be compared to one Holy Communion; no earthly position, no earthly gains can be compared to the Holy Eucharist. Nearer to the Eucharist equally amounts to; nearer to our spiritual fulfilment; nearer to strength from above; nearer to our consolation and victory; nearer to eternal life and nearer to God who grants all these through the Eucharist.

 

Happy Sunday!

Fr. Justin

 19th Sunday, Year B: Homily by Chima Isaac

Theme: The Eucharist: food for our life’s journey

Readings: 1kgs 19:4-8; Eph. 4:30-5:2; Jn. 6:41-51

On this nineteenth Sunday of ordinary time, Jesus, the bread of life, continues to draw us to himself in order to nourish and strengthen us on our life’s journey just as God drew Elijah into the desert in order to nourish and encourage him as he journeyed to seek His face.

The difficulties of this world often make some people to feel tired of this life, to think there is no reason to continue living, to feel that they are alone in their struggles, to feel that God doesn’t answers prayers anymore; they often make a whole lot of people to lose the hope of survival.  

The first reading presents us the story of Elijah who was in a similar situation with those who have lost the hope of survival in this world. Elijah was fleeing from death threats from the wife of King Ahab. On his way in the desert to seek God’s face, he suffered the heat of the sun and hunger. He wished he had died instead of facing such great suffering. This reading is very encouraging to all of us because many of us are facing various degrees of sufferings and extreme problems in their lives, in their relationships, in their families, and in their places of work. Some people have thought of giving up the hope of making it out alive. But then, what happened to Elijah has many lessons to teach us.

So, dear friends, we can all identify with the prophet and his predicament. When Elijah thought that all hope was lost, God divinely intervened by feeding and strengthening him for his journey. Are you thinking that all hope has been lost in your problems, difficulties or even sicknesses? We must learn to rest our expectations in God’s sovereignty, trusting in His time, in His Divine providence and protection. Also, another important and encouraging lesson here is that failure does not mean defeat, or an end to our life and journey. God is always by our side to pull us up in every failure, so that we can march on to victory.

The gospel presents us with a good news, it tells us that there is hope in Jesus, the bread of life, who draws us to himself every day in order to nourish and strengthen us for our life’s journey and for our daily activities, so that we will not be defeated by the harsh experiences or realities of life. He also strengthens and nourishes our soul on its journey to eternity, so that temptations will not defeat us. He said: “I am the bread of life ... I am the living bread which came from heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever.”

Dear friends, our life is a journey, a journey full of uncertainties. It is by partaking of the Eucharistic meal, which we celebrate in the Mass every now and then, that we are enabled to reach eternal life. Whoever stays away from the body and blood of Christ will lack the strength to confront temptations and other things that threaten our physical and spiritual welfare and existence. So, Jesus is inviting us to always partake of His body and blood so that we will see the face of God on the last day, just as Elijah received strength to see the face of God by eating the meal given to him by God.

In our second reading, St. Paul reminds us that as children of God, each one of us bears a mark of the Holy Spirit. This spirit is our guide, strength and companion on this Journey of life. So, we must trust and walk with him. Grieving the Spirit will make our journey difficult. If we trust and walk with him, he will lead us safely through the rough paths of life. He will lead us to Christ the living bread who nourishes and strengthens us along our journey.

What should we do to avoid grieving the Spirit of God in this our journey towards eternity? St Paul tells us what to do. He said: “Let all bitterness, indignation, anger, shouts and slanders disappear from you with all sorts of malice. Instead, be kind to one another, merciful, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. Make yourselves therefore imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love.” Dear friends, if we want the Holy Spirit to accompany us in this journey, we should live our lives according to these qualities mentioned by St Paul.

Partaking of the body and blood of Christ is a holy exercise. Thus, all who do this holy exercise should live a holy life, they should live according to the qualities recommended by St Paul in this second reading. When we live a holy life, this spiritual food will be a real strength for our journey. 

The psalmist of today gives us an invitation to the altar of God, saying: “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” Let us accept this invitation because Christ is really the bread of life that strengthens us daily.

Peace be with you, and have a blessed Sunday

Fr. Isaac C. Chima.

19^TH SUNDAY, YEAR B: REFLECTION BY FR JULIAN EKEH

THEME: CHRIST THE BREAD AND THE BREAD MAKER

 (John 6:41-51)

The troubles and challenges of this life can make us pray God to take away our lives at one point or the other. But Jesus comes as the angel from God, as the messenger from heaven not to take away our lives but to give us a better life, to feed us and to nourish us for the journey ahead.

As Jesus comes, let us recognize Him, let us open our spiritual eyes and acknowledge Him, let us stretch out our hands to embrace Him, let us bring out our tongues to have a taste of Him. As we take our flight away from sin, let us rise to accept from the hands of the Christ, through His priests the bread He prepares for us through their hands in the Holy Eucharist. It will strengthen us to journey along with Him. It will help us to come back to confront the powers and forces holding us down, trying to clamp down our zeal for the things of the spiritual. The bread Jesus gives will help us to win and keep winning in the battles of this life.

Let us pay attention to the following Eucharistic disciplines outlined by our Lord in the Gospel of today since the Gospel affirms: "And they shall all be taught by God"

 

I AM THE BREAD

Jesus tells us that He is the bread. We should learn to see the Eucharistic Bread as God who took flesh. Let us not forget the name of God: "I Am". Thus the "I Am" is the Bread. The source of this Bread is Heaven, the abode of God. God wants to be eaten by Man to give man the life of God. What an amazing love!

Do you still recognize the divinity of Christ in the Holy Eucharist? Jesus is the One hidden in the sacred species. Let us give Him the honor that is His due. He is that Bread.

 

BEWARE OF WHAT THE BREAD IS NOT

When Jesus was teaching about what He is: 'The Bread' the people murmured: Is not this Jesus...?

He is Jesus and more. He is Jesus and Christ. He is Jesus the Son of God and of Mary. He is not just man. But He is God made man. He is Spirit that took flesh. He is not just natural but supernatural. He is not a flesh fallen in sin but a special flesh that gives life to our weak flesh, and life to our mortal bodies.

Let us not be like these people who now see the Jesus as mere man. Let us not be like the people who take the Eucharistic meal as ordinary meal. Let us not take the Eucharist as a memorial, but as: The Real. Let it keep drawing us to God and make us live ever in thanksgiving for what the Lord continues to do for us.

 

LET US EAT AND WORSHIP

The Eucharist was instituted within the Passover meal. After eating in the African setting especially among the Igbos, those who ate say: 'Thank You' to the one who fed them. The word Eucharist means, thanksgiving. As we receive the flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us remain thankful to Him for being our food and nourishment. Let us worship and adore Him. Let us live in gratitude. Let our lives become inspiration for others. Let us not stop appreciating the life God gives us in Christ. Let us make the Eucharist our daily bread.

Let us approach God with humility and faith. Let us kneel, genuflect, bow and stand before the Blessed Sacrament in worship.

 

BENEDICTION

May God continue to lift us up, help us not to fall, feed us, hear our prayers and bless us in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Happy Sunday (19th Sunday, Ordinary Time, Yr B)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh