21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle B, Year II)

Community Word:Belief in Jesus Christ, our Living Bread, leads us to eternal life.

Theme:Our belief in the Living Bread compels us to stand firm in following Jesus.

Promise:“The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”(Jn 6:63b)

Reflection:
The declaration of Jesus about himself being the Bread of Life from heaven that gives eternal life drew negative reactions and sharp questioning even from his own followers. Some even stopped believing in the Lord and left him. His teaching about his real presence in the Eucharist is difficult to be understood by human minds. Believing this is an act of faith which is a gift of the Father.Like any gift we receive, it is useless unless we use it. We renew our faith each time we kneel in the presence of Jesus and adore him. Jesus did not try to explain away what he said even when many of his disciples left. He knows that he is nothing less than the Divine Presence in our world.

Peter may not understand the full meaning of what Jesus is saying but he knows what is essential: “You have the words of eternal life,” (Jn 6:68b). Then, he added: “We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God,” (Jn 6:69). To follow Jesus is to walk in faith, understanding that other pretenders to the truth can never satisfy us. It is basic to our faith that we believe in everything that our Lord Jesus Christ says, and like Peter, we can also affirm and say to him – ‘Lord, you are the truth and you have the words that will bring us to eternal life in heaven.’

The words of Jesus come at a great price. He teaches us truths that are sometimes hard to swallow. He calls us to believe in mysteries that may defy our logical thinking and intellectual pride such as, his ‘real presence in the Eucharist,’ the sacredness of all life, and the need for confession. The path of life is strewn not with ‘bed of roses” but with crosses and obstacles – tribulation, pain and suffering. Some people may have stopped believing because their prayers seem to remain unanswered. Some of the sick whose recovery come slowly harbor grudges against God. Poverty may drive many people to discontinue their relationship with God. Following Jesus is seeing him at work even in the haze of daily concerns that leave us bewildered, confused and tired. Amidst all of these, it is believing in his abiding presence where true Christians are formed and strengthened.

Even to this day, Christians are divided on how to see Jesus as the Bread of Life. Some would emphasize faith in Jesus as Lord and Savior. Some commemorate the Lord’s death and resurrection and profess that it signifies life in communion with Christ. But there is the mystery of faith which surpasses human understanding and can only be received in faith, a gift of the Father and the Spirit. Without Jesus’ real presence, where would our life be?

We are here for Jesus because we believe that he is here for us and he gives us his own body and blood for our strength and courage in our daily life. Though there are many weaknesses in our community, this is still the Body of Christ, the anchor of our faith.His presence truly compels us to stand firm in following him faithfully.
In receiving his body and blood thru Holy Communion, we are assured of his presence and power. His promise then assures us: “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life,” (Jn 6:63b).

Prayer:
Loving Jesus, you have the words of eternal life. You are our salvation. Without you we are lost and we cannot do anything. Life is meaningless without your presence. Faithful God of the covenant, in the daily choices we have to make, give us the courage to always choose Your Son and His ways and to remain close to Him. Bless the difficult road we have to take sometimes without seeing where it will lead us. Keep us from making half-hearted decisions when our faith is rather weak and make us accept all the consequences of our choice. Keep us always faithful through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Reflection Questions:
1. What else do you have to decide and do so that you can freely and unconditionally follow Jesus? Are you stifled by personal challenges in these situations?

2. What are the teachings of the Catholic Church that you doubt or cannot accept, or teachings that do not conform to your personal opinions, or circumstances? As a Catholic faithful, what action will you take to overcome these doubts or non-acceptance?

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
Aug 26, 2018 (Sun)-Jos 24:1-2, 15-18/Ps 34:2, 3, 16-21/Eph 5: 21-32/Jn 6:60-69
Aug 27, 2018 (Mon)-2Thes 1:1-5, 11, 12/Ps 96:1-5/Mt 23:13-22
Aug 28, 2018 (Tue)- 2The 2:1-3, 14-17/Ps 96:10-13/Mt 23:23-26
Aug 29, 2018 (Wed)-Jer 1:17-19/Ps 128:1, 2, 4, 5/Mk 6:17-29
Aug 30, 2018 (Thu)-1Cor 1:1-9/Ps 145:2-7/Mt 24:42-51
Aug 31, 2018 (Fri)- 1Cor 1:17-25/Ps 33:1-5, 10, 11/Mt 25:1-13
Sep1, 2018 (Sat)-1Cor 1:26-31/Ps 33:12, 13, 18-21/Mt 25:14-30

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”