SELECTED REFLECTIONS FOR THE 19TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME.
1st Reading:1 Kings 19:4-8
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Psalm 34:2-3.4-5.6-7.8-9 (R. 9a)
2nd Reading: Ephesians 4:30-5:2
Gospel Reading: John 6:41-51
JUDE ONUH
My Reflection
The central massage in today's readings is to do the will of God with truth and humility, in total submission to he will of God.
In the first reading when Elijah was fleeing from the wickedness of Jezebel, he almost lost his faith due to hunger,
but when he remembered that he has Almighty God, he prayed that instead of falling to mere mortal like Jezebel.
Prayed that God should allow him to die in peace.
God heard his prayers in more positive way by sending his Angel to feed him with enough food for the journey ahead.
After this encounter Elijah never have any reason to look back again.
Let's examine ourselves, how we have lost hope in God in difficult moments of our lives. ( in sickness, no job, in poverty, at danger/treat) when we are in the side of truth. Let's take consolation in this reading that he will not abandon us.
The readings from the psalmist, pointed us to the first reading to always come to the Lord and see how Good he is in times of difficulty.
The central massage of the day . Jesus in today's Gospel gave us the greatest gift of his body and blood, as food for everlasting life.
My best take home from this Gospel reading is that Jesus did not compromise the truth. In the midst of agitation from the Jews Jesus insists that his body and blood is the only food necessary for journey of everlasting life
Just as Elijah needed the food from the Angel for the journey ahead of him, Jesus is reminding everybody who cares to listen that The Holy Eucharist is food we need for eternal life.
two massages here.
1) let us emulate Jesus to always stand for the truth. Even when we are standing alone no matter the pressure, we must not compromise the truth even in the midst of pressure.
2) Let us listen to the true teachings of the Church on the Holy Eucharist, practice it, receive him always, avoid occasions of anything that will stop us from the reception of the Holy Eucharist eg (sin of any kind) or bad association.
B. We should try to teach others about the Eucharist as Christ taught us through the church, if there's areas we don't understand we can ask questions from our priests, Catechists or seminarians who may be in our parishes for apostolic works.
In second reading St Paul called our attention to remove any form of bitterness, wrath, anger, malice. to be kind to one another, forgive each other, just as God even when we were the ones who offended him .
He sent his only begotten son, Jesus Christ to come, loved us, taught us the right way to achieve salvation. and crowned it all by sacrificing himself for us on the cross to save us.
We should emulate Jesus in sacrificing for one another .
In summary, let us humble ourselves before God. To always do the will of God, in truth and humility. Sacrifice for each other, let us be practical christians, the church in her teaching of corporal and spiritual works of mercy ( mt 25: 31-46) taught us all that is needed among ourselves... This is the summary of the criteria for Judgement at the last day.
Thanks and have a wonderful weekend. 🙏🙏🙏
REV. JOSEPH EDEH, CMF
My Reflection from the Gospel!!!
In the Gospel pericope Jesus insists that he is the true Bread that came down from heaven which we must eat to possess eternal life.
In Hebrew culture, flesh and blood signifies a complete and concrete human nature. Hence, this means that Jesus was referring to his full nature, which we must eat, in order to qualify for the kingdom of God. This implies that for us to have life here and hereafter, a close union and communion with Jesus is very necessary.
The Jews murmured and complained because our Lord said his flesh is real food. In Numbers 11:4 the Israelites complained, "Who will give us meat to eat? Now our appetite is gone, there is nothing to look at, nothing but manna." Jesus has now offers us that food yet most of us are complaining.
The Holy Eucharist remains an eternal food for us. It nourishes and sustains, heals and forgives, strengthens and refreshes. The Eucharist is an everlasting meal provided by God for us pilgrims on our way to meet Christ. May we continue to receive Christ worthily in the Eucharist through Christ our Lord. Amen🙏
STANLEY OSIKEAMHE MARIO MACDONALD OREGIE
Spontaneous Reflections
▶️ The first reading reveals God's abundant providence in the life of Elijah. In Elijah's desperate need for bread, the God of Providence showed up for him. He ate and he was sustained throughout his journey.
▶️Like Elijah, we, too, are on a journey to the "Mount of God." The Eucharist is our food for the journey. We can only walk in the strength of this food to the end of our journey. Like Elijah, God has provided us with the food for the journey. It is left to us to eat or to ignore. If we eat, then we will gather enough strength for the journey.
▶️ The Eucharist is Christ himself. We always profess this as Catholics and it is a fact often taken for granted. But then, let's take a minute and reflect. If you were told today (and you have evidence that it is true) that Jesus appeared in the flesh and his glory in a nearby parish, what would be your reaction? I'm sure, you will run like a mad man/woman to go and see him. And when you get there and see him, what will you do? Of course, like me, many of us would fall prostrate in worship. The big question we are then left to answer is: why don't we react the same way, in reverence and awe, whenever the Lord is exposed in the Eucharist? Why are our Churches empty on Sundays during Benediction? Why do we prefer attending community meetings to going to see the Lord exposed in the Eucharist?
In truth, and by our actions, do we truly recognize the Lord in the Eucharist?
NZEAKOR EUGENIA
My sharing comes from the Gospel.
If Anyone Eats Of This Bread, He Will Live Forever.
Dear brethren, the word of God has come to us yet again. Today Jesus is letting us know that He's the bread who came down from Heaven, and that anyone of us who eats this bread shall live forever. Brethren, Jesus Christ is the true bread that gives eternal life to every living soul who believes in Him. It's quite a pity that many of us do not fully understand the benefits of receiving the body and Blood of Christ Jesus. Dear brethren, l tell you the truth base on how l feel each time l went to Mass without receiving the Body and Blood of Christ, l always feel incomplete and ashamed whenever l'm not in the State of Grace to receive the Body and Blood of Christ while in Mass. I don't know if it happens like that to any other person, but the truth remains that we are always incomplete whenever we attend the Holy Mass without receiving the Holy Eucharist.
The Spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.
May God strength us in Him through Christ our Lord 🙏🙏🙏.
ANTHONY ONUMAJURU
LET US REFLECT FELLOW CATHOLICS
They murmured because he said - I am the bread which came down from heaven.
They said - Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?
Truly, truly, I said to you, he who believes has eternal life.
These are the words of the Holy Gospel according to John.
As we celebrate the Eucharist which forms the center of our faith as Catholics and that which nourishes us.
Many of us Catholics like the Jews still murmur and find it difficult to believe in the transubstantiation of the bread and win.
These are displayed by our actions and inactions -
Not going for the sacrament of reconciliation (confession)
- receiving the Eucharist in the state of sin
- not going for communion at all
- not maintaining the expected decorum during consecration
And many more, name them..
The Eucharist makes Catholics unique. With the presence of the ordained priests the Eucharist is ministered to us.
Let us continue to pray for our priests as the do this.
Again, Christ has assured us 🙏 Truly truly our faith shall earn us eternal life 🙏
PEACE
COMFORT MARY EDEWOR
My Reflection on the Readings
The Readings today talk about nourishment, both for the spiritual and physical being. Just like any creature deprived of food cannot stay alive for too long, so it is with the spiritual being deprived of spiritual nourishment in the form of the word of God or the Holy Eucharist . In the First Reading, Elijah was given the bread by an angel to eat to give him the strength he needed for the long journey. God alone knew how much food Elijah would need for the journey ahead and he made provision for him. When walking with God you can be sure he will not abandon you to rough the journey all alone. The holy Eucharist also referred to as the bread of Angels, the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ is what God offers to us his children to remain spiritually alive and fertile on this journey to eternal life. When l see people in church deliberately avoiding this food, all in the name of fake piety, , l wonder if they know the kind of danger they are subjecting themselves to. This food is a demonstration of God's love for us, making sure we have all we need for a healthy spiritual life here. Our Lord Jesus says, unless a man eats this bread and drinks this cup, he will not have life in him. We must therefore learn to appreciate God's providence in every aspect of our lives.
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