Homily For The 19th Sunday In Ordinary Time Year B.

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1 Kings 19:4-8; Psalm 34:2-9; Ephesians 4:17.30-5:2; John 6:41-51.

“BREAD: FOOD FOR THE JOURNEY!”

By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide 

·    Today the church celebrates the 19th Sunday in ordinary Time Year B. We continue with our reflections on Jesus as the bread of life (the Eucharist). What is the Catholic Church without the gift of Christ to us in the Holy Eucharist, making himself ever-present among us and the food for our souls?

·      Today we reflect on the theme: “Jesus the bread of life: food for the journey”. Sometimes, while we do our daily chores, some days are more hectic than others. Some days we come back home exhausted just needing food and rest to rejuvenate our lost strength. If we do not get the required rest, we complain or become edgy.

·      From our readings today, God proves to us that he has given us the greatest gift of all times which is the gift of his sacred body and blood in the Holy Eucharist. It is the food that strengthens our soul and gives us the energy we need to go through the journey of life to the end so that we can reach our expected destination (heaven).

·   Friends in Christ, make no mistakes about this, there are sometimes in life when we get overwhelmed by struggles to make ends meet. When we must struggle with disappointments. When we must cope with a lot of bad news and disappointments in life. Sometimes we tend to give up easily and want to stop our journey abruptly because we lack strength and encouragement.

·      In the first reading (1 Kings 19:4-8), Elijah went through the ordeal of traveling on the rough part of life and he decided to seat by the tree and wish for death rather than life. He was discouraged, disappointed, broken, and fed up with life and God intervened by sending an angel to minister to his needs. The angel gave him cake (food) and water. He was strengthened for the journey of 40 days and 40 nights.

·      Dearly beloved, we too need God to invigorate us from our various frustrations. We need him to re-energize us with the strength that is ever new. That is what he invites us to at the table of the Eucharist where he offers us himself in the form of bread and wine.

·      In the second reading (Ephesians 4:17.30-5:2), St. Paul tells us that to eat that food of sustenance, the food for our soul’s spiritual journey coming, we must therefore be committed to doing only that which pleases God. We must be committed to obeying his commandments and living at peace with each other.

·      St. Paul challenges us as children of God, to let go of all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, and malice. Instead, we must be kind to one another, tender-hearted and, always willing to forgive one another. We must be imitators of Christ in all we do, and love must be always our guiding principle. 

·      Friends in Christ, in the practice of virtues, to enjoy God’s favors, especially the food that gives us strength for our journey to eternity, the Gospel reading (John 6:41-51), makes us understand that people will murmur and even make jest of us, we must not be distracted.

·      In the case of Jesus, they wondered about the possibility of being human and yet still the bread of life. They refused to believe him claiming that they knew his roots and his relations. Jesus was not discouraged he rather invited those who truly believed in him to the banquet of eternal life.

·      In the same vein, there will be doubts when we change our old ways and begin to do the will of God. Friends and foes will mock us and even doubt the authenticity of repentance and commitment to the faith. Hang on there and do not be discouraged, Jesus the bread of life is ever willing to lend us the support we need so that we can have life and have it to the full.

·      Jesus does not make promises to us that he cannot fulfill. He has promised that he will give us life in abundance and that the bread he will provide us with, will give us physical and spiritual strength for the life now and the life to come. That is why the Psalmist tells us not to doubt at all but rather to “test and see that the Lord is good” (Ps. 34:9). 

·      May the good Lord bless his word in our hearts through Christ our Lord, Amen!

·      Happy Sunday!!!

 

 

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