Sunday Gospel Comment
Alberic Jacovone OSB
YEAR B NINETEENTH SUNDAY - 13.8.06 1 Kg 19,4-8; Eph 4,30-5,2; Jn 6,41-51 The ‘Amen Amen’ sayings of Jesus Remembering
& handing on Today,
we continue with John’s Gospel, chapt.6. John is passionate & committed in
impressing on us readers, that Jesus really is God’s Son. He’s come from
God, to teach us God’s will & give his life so we can have life in
abundance - here & forever. In our story, Jesus is violently controverted
& rejected by a hostile crowd, which is determined to impose its
interpretation, reject Jesus’ claims & remain locked in its mis-understanding
of messianic hopes. At the same time, Jesus presents himself to the crowd &
John presents Him to us readers, as one, who is equally determined to prove -by
the power of miracles- his claim that he is from God - is God - is the only one
who can & will satisfy human hunger for truth, justice, love, happiness....
Repeatedly John insists that we must accept that -in Jesus- ‘God was made
flesh’ (1,14) - lived amongst us - the apostles saw his glory - & now we
share his life. Repeatedly also, he urges us to go & look up in the Bible
where is the similar story of a crowd, who was just as hostile, rebellious &
stubborn against God. We are asked to weigh their situations, & be warned
not to become like ‘their ancestors in the desert, when they rebelled against
God & against Moses’. The miracle of loaves & fishes, at first creates
in the crowd the glimpse that perhaps Jesus may be the political Jewish Messiah
they were waiting for; but inevitably he is rejected by a barrage of pointing
questions: when did you come here? - what sign will you do? - will you give us
this bread? - Is not this Joseph’s son? - How can he say God is his father? -
How can he give us his flesh to eat? Jesus answers
with his famous ‘Amen, Amen’ replies, inviting us all to look for
deeper meanings & wisdom. ‘Amen,
Amen, I say unto you’. The 4 Gospels (John’s one included), present Jesus who uses an
“Amen warning”, whenever he urges his hearers & us readers, to pay
attention & listen & search for deeper meanings, to perceive &
pursue insights that are beyond what is seen though the naked eye. In today’s
story, Jesus pleads with us: in life work for what endures forever & not for
what does not last & dies. I put before you a nourishment, that is greater
than the Manna in the desert; it’s food that endures into eternal life.
Fortunate are we if we believe, accept & respond. Sadly, the hostile crowd
in John’s Gospel, heard & responded with curiosity & irony, as many
people still do today, with words like: what kind of food? - where is it? - how do we get it? - & when?
- & who gives it?... The task of accepting the deeper understanding
of Jesus’ mysterious presence & union with us, is as relevant today as
it’s been to our former generations of Christians across 2000 years. Fortunate
are we if we can tap into this deeper understanding of Jesus’ words -
receive gratefully from our ancestors the faith that made them strong in
their convictions - & remember & own for ourselves the same Catholic logic &
wisdom & pass it on to our families. Today, as we read prayerfully chapter 6
of John, let’s stop at the many ‘Amen, Amen’ sayings of Jesus, &
ponder... trying to perceive & pursue where Jesus’ insights may lead us.
My wish is that our imagination will be set on fire, & we may be full of
gratitude to God, as we ponder, absorb, & are privileged to experience in
our life Our Lord’s abiding presence & intimacy. I for one, have never
forgotten the delights I felt when I, -as a novice at the Monastery of Fabriano, Italy- stumbled in a
book: “Jesus’ Discourses in John’s Gospel”: it made me feel privileged
to be the Lord’s disciple, called to promote His desire & longing” that
we all may be one in him & with him - in God”. ______________________________________ |
