13/08/2006 - XIX SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME - Year B
First Reading 1Kings 19:4-8 Psalm 33/34
Second Reading Ephesians 4:30 - 5:2 Gospel John 6:41-51
The Word of God is clear: sexual perversions condemned by God, which St. Paul
refers to in the Letter to the Romans, are grave sins. They generate disorder
and suffering to themselves and to others. Already, in the Old Testament, with
the destruction of Sodom, men were advised of the gravity of the sin of homosexuality:
it would, in actual fact, create destruction for the entire society (Gen. 19)!
But the Word of God warns, also, of the harm caused by each impure act and fornication.
By the term "fornication", we mean the seeking of sexual relationships
for sheer pleasure, by young men and women. The Latin word "fornix",
porch, from which the verb fornication originates, means meeting in the dark,
in order to find "enjoyment", hidden behind the columns or the corners
of porches. Here is what St. Paul teaches: "Fornication and impurity of
any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among
saints. Entirely out of place is obscene, silly and vulgar talk; but instead,
let there be thanksgiving. Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure person,
or one who is greedy (that is, an idolater), has any inheritance in the kingdom
of Christ and of God." (Eph. 5:3:5). Why are the sexual experiences of
the young considered sinful? They do not express love, nor do they prepare one
to love; actually, they create the mentality that life is the seeking of pleasure.
The children and young people, who do not control themselves, are not going
to be ready to form a family, nor will they be capable of taking on the responsibility.
They will remain selfish and become unstable and only capable of bringing suffering
to others! When they are tired of the pleasure, or when it causes them problems,
they will seek out adultery; or, possibly, no longer see the need for living.
They may even be tempted to commit suicide!
Today's Readings speak to us of food, of eating and drinking: the nutrition
referred to has a specific purpose; it is not nourishment that gives man the
satisfaction of being satisfied and having enjoyed a good meal. We eat and drink
with a specific purpose: the angel who invited Elijah to stand and eat, invites
him to walk, as well, to climb on the mount in order to come and meet God! Elijah
can take the bread and water needed for this walk, but it is given to him by
God, Himself! And so, with the strength he received from the food "he walked
forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mountain of God". Elijah saw
that the bread was a gift, at a time of desperation, when he could only find
a solution in death. He no longer had hope, he believed his task as prophet
for his people was finished and, therefore, should no longer live. It seemed
that no one wished to listen to him, because no one wanted to remain faithful
the God of the alliance: it was, therefore, useless to live. With that food,
God made Elijah understand that that was not the way it was: he needed to remain
always faithful, always ready to listen and to speak the Word, always forgetting
about himself so that he could bring, to his people, the signs of the divine
will! Elijah obeyed: he ate, drank and walked until he, again, met with his
God!
The bread that Elijah had received previously, tasted and enjoyed by all the
people was the manna found every day in the desert. It was bread given by God,
bread which helped the people to continue their life and their path. But that
bread did not take away death from the people permanently: "They all died"!
This is what Jesus said to the Jews, when He tried to reveal Himself to them,
even though their hearts were hardened. The true bread which God wants to give
man cannot be the manna: this was a passing gift, like the gift He gave to Elijah.
The definitive gift is the bread of life, nourishment which gives life, and
gives a purpose and reason to man, for all eternity. God keeps it in store,
for us, and He sends Jesus to give it to us! Better yet, it is He, Jesus Himself,
the bread which unites us to God, permits us to taste the joy and the fullness
of true, definitive, stable and eternal life, as the Father does. With Him in
our hearts, we can truly fulfill all that the Apostle urges us to do. By "eating",
Jesus can make bitterness, anger, and slander disappear and, instead, spring
mercy, forgiveness and tender heartedness in us, gifts which manifest our similarity
to God. Mercy, above all, that is the giving of ourselves, offering ourselves
for the needs of our brothers, will be present in us. In fact, the bread which
comes down from heaven can only feed, in us, the love which the Father has for
all His creatures!
Perhaps, there may be doubts in our hearts, as in the minds of the Jews: doubts
and sadness, doubts about the bread of life, doubts about You, Jesus, about
the significance and the truth of Your words. We look for the answers, not to
those who have modest doubts, but we look for them in You, who love us and cannot
deceive us. Your words, enlightened by the light of the love of the Father,
will open our hearts and our minds to welcome Your life. We will eat Your Bread,
which is truly your flesh, the substance and truth of the life given to You
by the Father! And so, we will become one with You, and our life will be a blessing
for all!