20/08/2006 - XX SUNDAY in ORDINARY TIME - Year B
First Reading Proverbs 9:1-6 Psalm 33/34
Second Reading Ephesians 5:15-20 Gospel John 6:51-58
At Tavodo: S.Agapitus -martyr, patron saint of the town
Love between a man and a woman finds its own fulfillment and gives true satisfaction
when it becomes stable and lasting, when one can guarantee the security of a
lifetime to the other. This is, also, the ideal environment in which children
can grow in harmony. The sexual relationship of a married person, outside of
his/her marriage, or of an unmarried person with a married person, is adultery.
In the Old Testament, as well as in the New Testament, this sin is considered
very grave: it ignores and scorns God's blessing!
"Jesus said to them: 'It was because you were so hard-hearted that Moses
allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning, it was not so. And
I say to you: Whoever divorces his wife, except for infidelity, and marries
another, commits adultery.'" (Mt 19:8-9). Adultery is a sin, and it is
grave, not only for the suffering it brings to those involved, but also, for
the instability it generates in the society. The long term results are not easy
to think about. Adultery brings about divorce, and from here begins the suffering
of children and insecurity for the youth. Where there are no children, the results
are equally grave, because this behaviour creates a mentality which makes it
easy for young people to be unfaithful, and keeps them from accepting stable
responsibilities their entire lives. "Scandal", the behaviour which,
once accepted, makes it easier for the young and the weak to sin, is always
very grave: Jesus had powerful words for those who lead others to sin and who
weaken the standards in the life of a community of faith (Mt 18:6-9; Mk 9:42-47)!
Obviously, we don't wish to condemn those who commit adultery, but we cannot
condone it. As Jesus, when the adulteress was brought before Him to be stoned,
told her: "Neither will I condemn you; go and sin no more" (Jn 8:11).
The wisdom of God is presented as an important personage who offers bread and
wine to those who wish to win over their own foolishness and live life as intelligent
people! To become wise is truly a strange road! Eating and drinking, eating
bread and drinking wine so that we might become the experts of life! Wisdom
and intelligence are very precious gifts, much desired and important, because
we don't wish to waste energy unnecessarily, which later bring us to regret
our decisions. The Apostle Paul speaks of this wisdom and intelligence, as well:
he recommends to the people of Ephesus to be vigilant, because the environment
surrounding them is not helpful. He considers the man who "understands
what the will of the Lord is" to be intelligent and wise! And he suggests
that coming together in prayer, singing and making music to the Lord in your
hearts and giving thanks to God the Father at all times, is expedient in finding
true wisdom!
The First Reading speaks of bread and wine at a lavish table! They are bread
and wine shared in communion, which lets us enjoy the communion and the unity
of our brothers, with others equally attentive to reaching wisdom. It is the
bread and the wine of brotherhood, therefore, that is the source of the true
wisdom of life!
Where do we find this bread and wine, which unite us in one will and make us
wise and knowledgeable, despite our natural foolishness? Where do we find the
bread and wine which allow us, even push us, to come together and pray and sing
praise to our Father? Jesus answers us. He, Himself is the bread/wine, the bread
of knowledge. His flesh and His blood are food and drink of brotherhood, because
real food and real drink nourishes eternal life, which unite us to Him intimately,
without equals.
There are no discussions or arguments which explain, convince or force us to
accept this language and this "truth". The only thing to do is …to
eat! Eat Jesus, and you will see what life and what wisdom will enter in you!
Eat His flesh and drink His blood, take in all that Jesus is, His life and His
thoughts, His obedience to the Father, His love for mankind, His attention to
the Scriptures, His dependence on them, and you will know what eternal life
is! Welcome Jesus unconditionally, welcome Him and give Him your heart, without
fear of the insinuations and beliefs of others. Put Him above all your thoughts,
and you will know what wisdom is! True, wise reasoning will come later, when
you've loved Him and welcomed Him fully within you. When you begin to "eat
Him", you will begin to realize that you live thanks to Him, that you owe
Him the beauty and the fullness of your life! You can, then, sing with freedom
and joy:
"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in
my mouth.
My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad"!