Good Shepherd Catholic Parish

21^st Sunday in Ordinary Time: Year B

          Peace be with you and greetings on this our celebration of the Mass for the 21^st Sunday in Ordinary Time.  Today we’ve just heard our final reading from the sixth Chapter of John’s Gospel, sometimes called Jesus’ “I am the Bread of Life” discourse.  Several times in the last several weeks you’ve heard both Father and me emphasize the importance of this specific chapter for its’ very vivid description of Eucharist, as the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Additionally, often times in the past, you’ve heard me emphasize how important it is for all Catholics to be comfortable enough with the Bible to explain our own faith to our Protestant brothers and sisters in context of God’s written word.  This “Bread of Life” discourse is certainly an excellent example of what I’m talking about.

          So, today I’m going to do something very unusual for a homily in a Catholic Church during Mass.  I’m going to use the commentaries from a KJV Study Bible to talk about Jesus’ “Bread of Life” discourse in John 6.  First, when Jesus says he is the living bread come down from heaven and whoever eats this bread will live forever, this Study Bible says, “eat” is really a synonym for faith.  And when Jesus’ listeners questioned how He could possibly give his flesh to eat the KJV Study Bible says those questioning were mistaken because Jesus was only speaking figuratively, and they incorrectly took him literally.  And finally, in verses 53-58; when Jesus seems to really emphasize, “Eat My flesh and drink My blood:” These Biblical commentary notes say, Jesus had made it abundantly clear, in this context, eternal life is gained by believing.  These verses teach that the benefits of Jesus’ death must be obtained, by individual faith.

          Now certainly belief and faith are important aspects of Jesus’ message but is that really all he is talking about in his “Bread of Life” discourse?  Why is there no mention in this Study Bible, when Jesus is asked to explain his confusing words about eating him as living bread come down from heaven, he actually becomes more descriptive or even crude with his language?  He changes his vocabulary from the polite word “esthio” to describe human eating and suddenly uses a verb four times describing animals eating.  “Trogo” is a verb really meaning, “chew or “gnaw”.  So, should it surprise us at all in today’s Gospel, when we hear Jesus’ own disciples ask, “This saying is hard, who can accept it?”  My friends, these are Jesus’ own disciples saying this!  These are not Pharisees and Scribes questioning his shocking language.  Here as Chapter 6 closes, John emphasizes who Jesus Christ really is and this revelation should make it absolutely clear why our Lord’s words should not be heard figuratively or interpreted as some type of simple metaphor for faith.

          Jesus’ disciples were quite used to hearing him speak in agreeable metaphors to describe himself and his work here on earth; I am the vine, the Good Shepherd, the light of the world, the way, the truth, and the life.  Never do we hear discord from his followers until today when they ask, “This saying is hard, who can accept it?”  Gosh, do you think perhaps they were interpreting what he said literally?  So, how does Jesus respond?  Does he say something like, “Please don’t worry, this eating my body language just means have faith.”  No, absolutely not!!!  Jesus’ response is a question, which emphasizes his earlier words even more, “Does this shock you?”  In their silence you can almost hear them thinking, “Yes it shocks us Lord.  Please explain this eating your flesh and drinking your blood so we can understand what you really mean.”  Now, for the rest of this interchange, John’s Gospel again stands out as unique, as John portrays Jesus as both human and divine, which is exactly why we can easily believe and accept his words literally. 

          Jesus says, “What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?  It is the Spirit that gives life.  The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life.”  My sisters and brothers, unlike human beings, God’s words are not descriptive.  God’s words are creative.  God imagines the universe, and then speaks it into existence.  Right here in John 6, Jesus is reminding everyone listening there and then and everyone throughout eternity, he is the Word of God who dwelt among us.  When Jesus speaks things happen; “Little girl get up, Lazarus come out, this is My Body, this is My Blood.”  When Jesus told his disciples the words he spoke were both Spirit and Life he was outlining essential elements of what we Catholics call Sacramental.  On that day in Capernaum Jesus explained exactly what the Sacrament of Eucharist really is.

          Unfortunately, many of Jesus disciples still didn’t get it and then we have arguably some of the saddest words in the New Testament, “Many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.”  Interestingly, Catholic scholars have written volumes about that one single sentence from John 6.  “Many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him.” Not some, or a few, or a group, but many!  Amazingly the scholars who wrote this KJV Study Bible commentaries – were silent.  In my own heart I think it is all really explained by Jesus’ next question and their response as he turns to the Twelve Apostles, “Do you also want to leave?”  Peter answered him, “Master, to whom shall we go?  You have the words of eternal life.  We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”  At that moment, it was doubtful, Peter and the other Apostles understood Jesus’ divinity as God incarnate, the second person of the Trinity, but they did know and recognized Him as fulfillment of the promise made to the people of Israel.  They may have been confused but they had trust that Jesus’ words were truth – truth for their eternal salvation.

          So, as we sit here today, given everything happening in our own present, sometimes tumultuous Catholic world, here’s our homework.  Go home, sit quietly, and meditate on Jesus’ question to the twelve for just a few moments, “Do you also want to leave?”  Then ask, “Do I truly stand with Jesus Christ of the Eucharist?”