Wisdom!

Sunday, August 18, 2024

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Prv 9:1-6; Eph 5:15-20; Jn 6:51-58

The twentieth Sunday invites us to reflect on the fact that the Eucharistic promise of eternal life is the wisdom we share with the world. 

The first reading is an invitation to wisdom. Here, wisdom is personified as a woman who has built a house, prepared a life-giving meal, and invited all to partake of it. Though, at first glance, the passage lacks connection with other readings, a careful reading reminds us of Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf. Of this passage, St. Gregory writes, ‘The Lord ‘killed the sacrifices’ by offering himself on our behalf. He ‘mingled the wine,’ blending together the cup of his precepts from the historical narration and the spiritual signification.’ The Christological implication of the first reading is foundational for the Gospel to unfold its message on life-giving bread. 

The second reading from Ephesians reminds us that, following Christ, Christians are called to wisdom, and therefore, they cannot afford to behave foolishly. Paul employs the Greek term Sophia to address the Church at Ephesus, which was heavily influenced by Greek culture. Paul wants Christians to seize the moment because the times are evil. Once again, Paul is talking about time in terms of the Greek word Kairos which signifies the difference between ordinary time and the time of the coming of the Lord. As such, Paul urges the Ephesian community to make very good use of their time to witness to Christ until he comes again. 

The invitation to wisdom in the first two readings finds a better explanation in the Gospel. Possessing the knowledge of Christ as that bread that gives us eternal life is highlighted as wisdom. 

In this regard, there are five points for our reflection. 

1.The passage on Jesus as the living bread from heaven invites us not only to believe in him but also to find our very source of life in him. Just as food sustains and nourishes our health, eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Jesus penetrates our whole being (the soul and spirit, joints and marrow – Heb 4:12-13). Until this happens, Christians will have no life because, for us, the body and blood of Christ are the true food. In a way, it reminds us of the Old Testament, in which eating and drinking were associated with eating and drinking the laws and precepts of God. One famous example is Ezekiel’s action in Eze 3:1-3. 

2. Eating Jesus’ flesh and drinking his blood not only means communion with him in a very profound manner but also living the promise of eternal life. We must note that Jesus does not say, ‘Those who eat his flesh and drink his blood will not die.’ Instead, his promise is, ‘Those who eat his flesh and drink his blood will live forever.’ Hence, the Eucharist symbolizes both communion with Jesus and living his promise of eternal life. 

3. We are called to understand that Jesus couldn’t have meant his intimate presence and life-giving sacrifice in any other form, if not through the metaphors of flesh and blood. While flesh is the metaphor of Jesus’ Divine humanity, blood is the symbol of his sacrifice on the cross. Hence, eating Jesus’ flesh and drinking his blood is a declaration of our faith in the Eucharistic Lord. 

4. The way Jesus calls us to union with him by consuming his flesh and blood is insightful. Just as Jesus finds his life in communion with his Father, we now find our lives in communion with Jesus by eating his flesh and drinking his blood. This mutuality is far more enriching. 

5. Eternal life is a promise of Christ for those who eat his flesh and drink his blood. This promise remains true for anyone who expresses his or her faith in the Eucharistic Lord. Again, it is neither interpretation nor explanation, but a promise made by Christ himself. 

As Christians are called to wisdom, how do we grow in it in real life? 

1.For Christians, the wisdom is to understand that God has taken the ordinary realities of human life (bread and wine) to infuse a richer meaning so that they symbolize his incarnation and sacrifice. If so, how do we partake in the Eucharistic meal? 

2. Eating the body and drinking the blood of Christ signify the fullness and riches of the divine life. How faithful are we to this realization to let it impact our growth in spiritual life? 

3. The Christ who dwells in us manifests himself in our thoughts and actions. Our sanctification lies in putting on Christ in our daily lives. How committed are we to radiating Christ in our lives? 

Christian wisdom is far superior because it contains cherishing the promise of eternal life by partaking in the Eucharist!

Let us pray that we may ever grow in our wisdom by imitating the Eucharistic Lord!

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar