Alberic Jacovone OSB
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YEAR B
TWENTIETH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR
Prov 9,1-6; Eph 5,15-20; Jn 6,51-8
Two great ‘Eu-charis-tic’ texts
Eating & drinking for ‘real’ life. In the New Testament, 2 texts stand out for their deep Eucharistic impact: one is today’s Gospel John 6,51-58, the other is 1st Cor. 10,6-11,26. For their affirming language, poetic composition, categorical imperative, community commitment, & liturgical setting, both texts seem an adaptation of a hymn, with a strong statement of faith & code of conduct attached to it. While reading, one gathers that the community of early Christians was disturbed by doubts, divisions & disorders, due to diverse cultural sensitivities, among its Jewish members & those from ‘ethnic’ nations. From its start, the Church was called ‘Catholic’, which means universal & multicultural, & yet it has inevitably allowed different cultural mind-sets to be in conflict & clash. Jesus himself sent the Church to gather believers from all Nations, & throughout history it’s had the task of being a light to all Nations. Sadly however, the same Greek word ‘Catholic’ has become a sad battlefield in Western Christianity. We Catholics insist that in the Eucharist, the bread & wine become the true flesh & blood of Christ. While the appearance of bread & wine remains, the Real Presence of our Lord is brought about, soon as the words of consecration are pronounced. Against this belief many Christians over the centuries have chosen to differ giving different interpretation to the above texts. Because of our different interpretation, people from other Christians traditions, may not receive the Eucharist nor are we Catholics allowed to share the bread at non-Catholic services. For us, Mass is the representation & re-enactment that brings about Jesus’ Last Supper & his saving Death on the Cross. It’s not simply something symbolic & spiritual.
‘Eu-charis-t’,
God’s Good Gift. Today, let us spend quality time to reflect on the Gospel message, as
well as on the other Eucharistic text, mentioned above: 1st Cor.10,16-11,26. in
them we will discover how the Eucharist is a potent symbol of offering our life
to God, uniting ourselves to the great offering of Christ on the cross. Today,
let us stay with our loving Saviour, pondering in our minds & hearts, in
what amazing way the Eucharist is God’s wonderful gift to us. In the Eucharist
we discover: a gift of love, God’s gift of his Son & our way to
experience God in us & with us. A gift of self-giving, as he told us
to ‘do this in memory of me’, we also dare to offer our life in union with
him on the cross. A gift of communion, as in him, we deeply love God &
the people for whom he died: giving & receiving, remembering & giving
thanks. A gift of unity, as we gather to ‘make’ Eucharist, we truly
become one bread & one body; here, the same Spirit transforms in Christ’s
body, first the bread, then the gathered community. A gift of New Life,
Holy Communion is food for the journey (Viaticum): it satisfied the
deepest hunger of our human heart: our longing for love, hope, rest, well-being,
wholeness... A gift of presence, today, contemplate the many forms of
God’s presence in life, word & sacrament,
in the world & the incarnation, in each soul & in the common
union of the faithful. Feeling his presence come & adore, take & eat,
eat & drink, taste & see the goodness of the Lord. A gift of comm-mission, The Eucharist awakens in us God’s Spirit,
so we may share what we have received, & transform our home in a
‘Mini-Church’, where everyone feels welcome & loved. A gift of
responsibility towards all ‘little ones’: in humility we become aware of
our own brokenness & experience a need for repentance & reconciliation.
A gift of promise, as our communion is anticipation of the eternal banquet
in heaven
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