One another, Sunday20B

August 18, 2024

Proverbs 9:1-6; Psalm 34 (33); Ephesians 5:15-20; John 6:51-58

God invites us to the banquet of wisdom and life. With confidence, then, let us pray:

That our prayer and work together as a Church and parish community may be songs of thanksgiving to our gracious God: let us pray to the Lord.

That the ministers of our Church and the leaders of nations may draw courage and understanding from the table of God’s holy wisdom: let us pray to the Lord.

That teachers and their students may, in their studies and research, “discern the will of the Lord” in all things: let us pray to the Lord.

That those suffering from any form of addiction or abuse may rebuild their lives in the hope of God’s wisdom: let us pray to the lord.

That the poor, the homeless, and the forgotten may be welcomed to our banquet tables: let us pray to the Lord.

That the faithful who have died [especially _________], may be raised up by Christ to the life of the Father: let us pray to the Lord.

That God will hear the prayers we now offer in the silence of our hearts [Pause...]: let us pray to the Lord.

O God, in giving us your Son in the bread of the Eucharist, you have made us into your own body, one holy people bound by your love. May these prayers we offer and our work to make them come true make us bread for all people and family to one another. In Jesus’ name, we pray.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024bl, August 18). Twentieth Sunday in ordinary time. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081824.cfm

-Cormier, J. (1995). Lord, Hear Our Prayer: Prayer of the Faithful for Sundays, Holy Days, and Ritual Masses.

The Word today, W20B

August 19 - August 24, 2024

Monday 19 August

St John Eudes

Ezekiel 24:15-24 The prophets are called sometimes to illustrate their teaching with an action. This is perhaps the most disturbing prophetic gesture—and the message could hardly be clearer.

Matthew 19:16-22 A failed calling is always tough to listen to. It does remind us that we become disciples not because we choose it but rather the Lord chooses us.

Tuesday 20 August

St Bernard, abbot and doctor

Ezekiel 28:1-10 Today we hear a fierce critique of absolute rulers who set themselves up as gods over their people. “Being swollen with pride,” they are now severely corrected by God.

Matthew 19:23-30 The “eye of an needle” is not to be allegorized (there was no such “gate” in Jerusalem). Instead, we have grossly exaggerated image to make the point with wit and inescapable clarity.

Wednesday 21 August

St Pius X, bishop of Rome

Ezekiel 34:1-11 Ezekiel—whose ministry took place just before and then during the great Exile in Babylon—read that disaster as punishment for the total failure of leadership, both political and religious. He is very hard (rightly) on the shepherds who feed themselves instead of feeding the flock.

Matthew 20:1-16 Our parable today has not lost its capacity to shock and disturb. Originally, it was aimed at those who objected to God’s gracious inclusion of Gentiles in his plan of salvation.

Thursday 22 August

Our Lady, queen and mother

Ezekiel 36:23-28 Eventually, Ezekiel comes to the question of renewal and restoration. In a marvellous passage he describes this as a conversion of heart, achieved not by human effort but by God alone. Long before transplants were thought of, Ezekiel portrays God as a heart surgeon.

Matthew 22:1-14 To “get” this parable, it is vital to hear it on two levels. There is the level of the historical Jesus, using traditional festal and nuptial imagery for the kingdom. There is the level of church, looking back and what actually happened to Jesus, the messiah and prophet.

Friday 23 August

St Rose of Lima; St Eugene, bishop

Ezekiel 37:1-14 We need a double lens to listen to this reading. First a political lens: the vision is a parable of restoration after the disaster of the Exile in Babylon. In other words, another generation will rise and return. At the same time, the metaphor of resurrection works only because some people were already coming to some kind of faith in life after death.

Matthew 22:34-40 In a memorable encounter, Jesus goes to the heart of the Gospel of love. This great teaching is never, ever “out of date.”

Saturday 24 August

St Bartholomew, apostle

Apocalypse 21:9-14 What will heaven be like? Using a rich array of metaphors—marriage, jewelry, a city, the twelves tribes and the Lamb of God—our reading offers a stunning, vibrant and inviting portrait.

John 1:45-51 In this Gospel, the spread of the Good News is a kind of wildfire, with one person drawing another in. Symbolically, the fig tree referred to knowledge of God and evil and hence to the Torah which gives us this knowledge.

References

-United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. (2024bl, August 18). Twentieth Sunday in ordinary time. USCCB. https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/081824.cfm

-Sunday readings. (n.d.-s). Hearers of the Word. https://www.tarsus.ie/SundayReadings/

SOCL, Sunday20B

Sunday August 18, 2024

The one who eat this bread will live forever

See

One could launch the reflection by recalling significant situations in which the costly gift of self nourished others, leading perhaps to the gift of new courage and new life. Christians believe that Jesus gives life by giving himself. This is also the path of discipleship—the believer also gives life by the gift of self. Such memories may lead to the real heart of what is being said here: faith in Jesus and the meaning of his death and resurrection. At this point, questions arise such as, what is at the centre of my life? What give me nourishment and energy? How has that actually taken place in my own, quite personal journey? It might even help to come up with a personal faith statement at this point. Above all, this is an invitation to faith, understood as deep, deep trust. In the words of another text, we believe God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself (2 Cor 5:19).

Listen

Proverbs 9:1-6; Psalm 34 (33); Ephesians 5:15-20; John 6:51-58

Reflect

(John 6:51-58)

-In John’s Gospel, the author frequently presents people as misunderstanding what Jesus says. Jesus then uses the mistake to lead his hearers to a deeper understanding of his teaching. When have you found that clarification of a misunderstanding helped you to greater wisdom or deeper faith?

-Recall some treasured gifts that you have received. Then think of people who gave you something of themselves. Is it not true that such a gift outweighs any material present? When have you received such a gift? To whom have you given this gift?

-In this gospel faith is not a concept but a relationship. Faith leads us to believe in Jesus and to trust him who gave his life for us. As you look back on the development of your faith, what has helped to increase your trust in Jesus so that you believe that you are never on your own no matter what difficulties arise in your life?

-Jesus promises that those who come to him will have life. In what ways have you found that believing in God’s love, and believing that Jesus came to tell us about that love has been life-giving for you?

Pray

Wise and gracious God, you spread a table before us and nourish your people with the word of life and the bread from heaven. In our sharing of these holy gifts, show us our unity in you and give us a taste of the life to come. We make our prayer through your Son, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

References

Taste and See the Goodness of the Lord