19th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (B)

Sunday 11 August 2024
Jn 6:41-51

“Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh”
(John 6:49-51)

Today, in the village of Capernaum, on the banks of Lake Tiberias, it is possible to visit the suggestive ruins of a fifth century synagogue, which stands in turn on the remains of the first century synagogue where, in all probability, Jesus gave this speech, one of the most difficult to understand and welcome.

Jesus speaks of manna and His body. During their exodus from Egypt and their journey through the desert, the Israelites experienced the provident hand of God who gave manna, that providential food with which the Lord fed and nourished His people. Each Israelite was permitted to gather an omer (roughly equivalent to 4 litres) of manna each day, gathered at dawn. And this was repeated for five days each week. On the sixth day, they had to gather two omer, one of which was intended for consumption on the seventh day, the Sabbath. The manna could not be preserved from one day to the next, because it rotted. However, this did not happen for the omer collected in anticipation of the Sabbath rest: a unique discipline, through which God taught His people to trust and depend on Him, on a daily basis.

This isn’t easy! Human nature tends towards possession, and for this reason the Lord allows us to go through trials and difficulties in our lives, precisely to make us depend on Him.

Jesus speaks of the “bread from heaven”, that is from God, referring to Himself. Differing from the synoptic Gospels, the Gospel of John doesn’t record the Institution of the Eucharist during the Last Supper. Instead He does so here, with this discourse, presenting Jesus’ offering of Himself.

During our earthly pilgrimage, orientated as it is to the Promised Land – Paradise – we have a God that provides for our material needs, but also (and above all) a God who, out of love, makes Himself food and drink. He wants to dwell in us and take part in the details of our lives. He is Emmanuel!

Fr. Giuseppe