From the Pastor’s Desk
Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Aug 11, 2024
“Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God.”
-John 6:45-46
Brothers and Sisters,
Take a moment. After reading this sentence, please close your eyes and place yourself in the presence of our all-loving Father. Now that you’ve returned to reading, for those who skipped that exercise, I encourage you to try it later – though I’ll admit, there’s a good chance I’d be among you. How do you picture the Lord in your mind? Do you encounter an abstract feeling of God, or do you have a clear picture of the Lord? If you have an image of God the Father, what are his physical features? What type of character does he possess?
In today’s Gospel, the people are struggling with the profound claims that Jesus makes: that he has come down from heaven, that listening to the Father who sent him leads people to him, and that whoever eats his flesh will live forever. At the heart of his teaching on the Eucharist, the people are struggling with acceptance. Let’s be honest: what makes it difficult to accept the truth of the Eucharist? Is it because we are increasingly seeking scientific proof? Is it because we lose some specialness as Mass becomes part of our routine? Do we struggle to believe that God would go so far to nourish us, His beloved children? The Eucharist, a profound mystery, has the power to transform us, to nourish our souls, and to deepen our relationship with the Lord. Let us hold on to this hope and be inspired by the transformative power of the Eucharist.
The earliest Church emphasized the importance of following Jesus’ command at the Last Supper: “Do this in memory of me.” In his inspiring message to roughly 60,000 Catholics at the recent 10th Annual National Eucharistic Congress (watch it by visiting https://olphparish.org/ec-
Bishop Barron also calls the laity to live the evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and obedience, often associated with the more austere religious life. His teaching shows that these counsels help us center our lives on Christ. He concludes by noting that the heavenly Jerusalem is not depicted as having a Temple in the Book of Revelation because the whole city becomes the Temple. All of life is an encounter with God and an opportunity to praise and worship. We are transformed into the Temple of God’s abiding presence by centering our lives on Christ and receiving His gift of His Body and Blood.
May we continue to grow in our understanding and acceptance of the profound mystery of the Eucharist, allowing it to transform our lives and deepen our relationship with the Lord. This is not just a call to accept the Eucharist but a call to deepen our relationship with the Lord. Let us feel connected and engaged in this faith journey, knowing that the Lord is always with us, guiding and nourishing our souls. Wishing you peace and blessings as you journey in faith.