19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Reading I: 1 Kings 19:4-8
Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
Reading II: Ephesians 4:30—5:2
Gospel: John 6:41-51
Nowadays, we have become very conscious and particular of what to eat. Health foods are in, and warnings are out against cholesterol, sugar and salt. Studies show that food affects our physical condition and when we have indigestion, we analyze at once our latest meals to find the cause. But when it comes to our spiritual food, we are not that choosy. That is why, Jesus in our gospel invites us to eat His bread, to receive His wisdom. He gives Himself as nourishment. He wants to be united with us in a unique way, in the most intimate way possible.
The gospel stresses that Jesus is the bread of life, “I am the bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” In the Eucharistic celebration, we see Jesus as the Word of God that became flesh and as the incarnation of God’s wisdom. Listening to Him gives eternal life. In Him, we no longer have to offer food to God. He teaches us that God feeds his people. He offered himself as food for all of us. He took the initiative and will bring everything to a good end provided we receive what he has to offer.
Efren Tomas
In 2004, Father Efren arrived on Maui, Hawaii to be the Pastor of Christ The King Catholic Church in Kahului, Maui until 2012. He calls Christ The King his home because this was his first parish in Hawaii.
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