Sunday 18 August 2024

Today is Sunday the 18th August, beginning the 20th week of Ordinary Time. The Convivium Singers sing ‘Blessed Bread’ by Margaret Rizza. ‘Blessed bread, everlasting life; sacred cup, eternal salvation.’ Today’s reading is from the Gospel of John. John 6:51-58 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.’ The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live for ever.’ Those hearing Jesus in today’s passage give an honest response to what they’ve heard. They reject what sounds like cannibalism. Imagine you are there, hearing Jesus speak these words for the first time… What is your own reaction to Jesus’ words? Do you see a difference between those who “have no life in them” and those who do have life in them because of their faith, because of their close relationship with Jesus? In what ways does your faith, your relationship with Jesus give you life? In your mind’s eye, join the congregation in that synagogue in Capernaum, as they listen again to this radical young preacher. Jesus promises that “those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life.” What does this promise of eternal life stir up in your own mind and heart? Can you talk to God about that now? Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.