For the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
This Sunday is parish picnic Sunday – that is always a fun event – after the last Mass on Sunday – we will move on down to the Knights of Columbus Pavilion with lots of food and other activities – last Sunday, I gave the folks the blanket permission to wear picnic clothes to Mass – I have no idea what that means – and so I will be very anxious to see what comes about – do you suppose they will discover my shorts under the Mass vestments?
During the past week, I attended the Clergy Golf Tournament in Malone – each year a great opportunity for us, priests and deacons, to get together – it was more about getting together and having fun than golf. It turned out to also be a time of remembering those golfers from our clergy group who are no longer with us – those who have passed on to the Heavenly courses – That is always a bit sad – but it I also a reminder of the passing years for the rest of us – well, so does the shorter and shorter drives.
This Sunday’s Gospel continues the reading from John 6 – as will the next three Sunday’s gospels – John takes us through Jesus’ Discourse on the Bread of Life – his introduction of the apostles and each one of us – to the wonderful and central Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.
Last Sunday’s Gospel – a reading that begins this chapter – is the story of Jesus feeding the 5,000 with five loaves of bread. The next part of John 6 – that is not read at Mass – describes the apostles taking their boat across the lake – and the gospel then tells us of Jesus approaching the boat – walking on the water – and he joins them in the boat. Today’s liturgical reading begins with the people – those who were among the 5,000 – rush over to Capernaum, looking for Jesus. And then begins the Dialogue that is the rest of John 6.
A couple of things to notice – the folks wonder how Jesus got there – Jesus uses this as an opportunity to sort of confront the people – “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God has set his seal.”
Then they wonder – “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” Jesus responds, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.” Belief in Jesus – following the message of Jesus – today, this is really very different from ages ago – like when I was a child – as a child, I knew faith in God and living by Jesus’ teachings were a part the very culture of my family and neighborhood and my family. For example, in those days, you needed a good reason – not – to go to Church. Today – people seem to need a good reason to go to Church. Today – we need a real anchor to faith – we need something to help us find support for our faith and living that faith each day. We need a truly deeper source to give us meaning – to continue living our faith – that support comes best through our relationship with Jesus – we must find the way, the truth, the life – we find that best in the Eucharistic Jesus – the bread of Heaven will fill our hunger and need – Jesus’ gift of the Blessed Eucharist gives us the life and support we need.
We come to the Lord – just as those people of the Gospel story – because we have hunger – the hunger for support for our faith – support that we may find the way to lie that faith well.
I found this idea in the writings of Father Ron Rolheiser – the first words out of Jesus’ mouth – a question – “What are you looking for?” And he proposes this image – one of the Easter Gospel stories – concerns Mary Magdalene. She comes to the garden – searching for Jesus – he comes to her – but she does not recognize him, thinking it is the gardener – He speaks to her – same question as in today’s Gospel – “What are you looking for?” – Mary replies that she is looking for the body of the dead Jesus and could he give her any information as to where the body is. And Jesus simply says, “Mary.” He pronounces her name in love – She immediately recognizes him.
This is the whole Gospel – what we are ultimately looking for – the desire to hear God pronounce our names in love. To hear God, lovingly say: “Mary”, “John”, “Meagan”, “Peter” –
This is our anchor – when we face misunderstanding or depression.
LET US PRAY
Almighty God, my Father – I come to you this day – to find you – I come because I am in need – I need you with me to support me and guide me – I need to hear you say my name in love. This is my prayer - Amen.
Please join me as we say together the Lord’s Prayer.
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