They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
After the miracle of the loaves and the fish (last weekend’s Gospel) the crowd that had witnessed the miracle went looking for Jesus. They found him in Capernaum where the discourse that we will hear over the next four Sundays takes place. Free bread was a strong incentive to go looking for Jesus. But it seems that Jesus is aware that the crowds are shortsighted in their quest for satisfaction. Nevertheless, he feeds them not with the bread they seek but something much more, his very self.
We know how people line up for something that they really want, even if it’s not free, like concert tickets or the latest Apple product. In addition, it’s no secret that many who don’t normally attend Sunday mass will endure the crowds of Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday to receive what is uniquely experienced only once a year. During these summer Sundays, we won’t be giving out free bread, ashes, palm or concert tickets, we offer Christ, today and every day in the Holy Eucharist. In being faithful to mass, we are imagining and longing for our seats one day, at the banquet table in heaven. In our procession to the altar, we line up for what is eternal. As we follow the Gospel these upcoming Sundays, let us listen more deeply to the words that Jesus shares about himself and grow in our longing for the Holy Eucharist, so freely given.
FORMED – As we focus on this Bread of Life Discourse in the Sixth Chapter of the Gospel of John, it is an ideal time to reflect, pray, evangelize and engage in a vibrant liturgical catechesis of the Eucharist and the Mass. Therefore, I would like to suggest that we all take the time to engage in FORMED’s new series on the Eucharist Presence: The Mystery of the Eucharist. It offers ideal reflections for these coming weeks on the Gospel of John chapter 6.
Our parish has a membership in this online program which offers movies, books, lectures, study series and much more. To access this series on the Eucharist, and all that FORMED has to offer, simply go to https://formed.org/signup. Search our parish by entering our parish name, city and/or zip code. Enter your name and email address. Check that email account for a link to begin using FORMED. You are then able to access all the materials from FORMED.
OLYMICS OPENING CEREMONY – There has been a great deal of publicity given to the imagery of the Last Supper during the performance. Many various commentaries have been offered, the French Bishops Conference and individual Bishops and lay faithful have expressed their anger and disappointment in a blasphemous depiction of the institution of the Holy Eucharist, the Sacrament from which all others flow. I agree with all of these sentiments, especially after the Olympic Committee’s weak apology to anyone who was offended, and the subsequent denial that this was a depiction of the Last Supper to an acknowledgement in a New York Post article, that it was in fact intended as a depiction of the Last Supper.
The question of how to respond is up to each of us. One may choose to “boycott,” the Olympics, but I prefer not to do so. I enjoy appreciating the skills and talents of these young people who have worked too hard to get to these games. They give glory to God by the expression of the amazing talents the Lord has given them. So, I won’t boycott them – I will watch what I can and not hold these athletes responsible for the offensive expressions of the ceremony.
I will also be praying for our neighboring pastor, Fr. Joseph Fitzgerald, a former Olympian who is currently in Paris ministering to the athletes. He is in fact celebrating mass daily with them. Isn’t it amazing how God works? The Eucharist is blasphemed in the public forum, but it is being celebrated and lived in the Olympic Village. Dedicate an hour this week to pray in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Pray for healing in our broken world. Pray for a triumph of evil in all its forms. Pray for Father Joe, that his ministry among these God gifted athletes will bear fruit.
Peace