BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (# 39)
21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
BIBLE READINGS
Jos 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b // Eph 5:21-32 // Jn 6:60-69
Fr. Jon Sobrino, a Jesuit theologian based in El Salvador, gives us a first hand account of an incident that illustrates Archbishop Oscar Romero’s radical response for Christ and the good of his people.
“On May 19, 1977 the army went to Aguilares, expelled the three remaining Jesuits, desecrated the church and sacristy, and declared a state of emergency. After a month of the state of emergency, the army simply drove the people out of Aguilares. Archbishop Romero decided to go there at the first opportunity, denounce the atrocities that had been committed, and try to inspire a threatened, terrorized people with hope. ‘You are Christ today, suffering in history,’ he told them. After the Mass we held a procession of the Blessed Sacrament. We processed out into a little square in front of the church to make reparation for the soldiers’ desecration of the sacramental Body of Christ and the living Body of Christ, the murdered ‘campesinos’. Across the square, in front of the town hall, were armed troops, standing there watching us, sullen, arrogant and unfriendly. We were uneasy. In fact, we were afraid. We had no idea what might happen. And we all instinctively turned around and looked at Archbishop Romero, who was bringing up the rear, holding the monstrance. ‘Adelante! (Forward!)’, said Archbishop Romero. And we went right ahead.”
On March 24, 1980 Archbishop Romero was shot to death while celebrating the Mass, the blood of his martyred body mixing with the sacramental body and blood of Christ on the altar of Eucharistic sacrifice. The death of Archbishop Romero sealed his fundamental option to commit himself totally to Christ and to be radically united with him, who is the Son of God, the living bread come down from heaven, the food for eternal life.
The Gospel passage of this Sunday (Jn 6:60-69) highlights the fundamental option and core decision of the disciples, either to break away from Christ or to reinforce their commitment to him. The focus is not on the noncommittal reaction of the cynical crowd, but on the polarized reaction of the so-called “disciples of Jesus” to the astounding self-revelation and pronouncements he made during the Eucharistic discourse. The rejection of the uninitiated crowd is understandable. The rejection, however, of many of his close followers is lamentable and takes on a pathetic tone. Confronted with the sign of the multiplication of the loaves and fish and with the revelatory Eucharistic discourse, they refused to make a radical decision of faith commitment to this person who claims to be sent directly by God, as the Bread-wisdom giving life to those who believe and as true food and drink offered in his very own flesh and blood.
Echoing the murmuring criticisms of the unbelieving Jews (cf. Jn 6:41-43,52), many of Jesus’ disciples whined: “This saying is hard: who can accept it” (Jn 6:60). Jesus did not attenuate his intolerable language in order to accommodate their unbelief, but insists on the necessity of grace. He asserts: “It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (Jn 6:63). Indeed, the life of which Jesus has been speaking is entirely within the spiritual sphere and only the Spirit can give us an understanding of it. Only by opening ourselves to the grace of God will we be able to make a commitment of faith. To this difficulty of believing Jesus as the one sent directly by the Father will be added the greater challenge of faith: “What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?” (Jn 6:62). The first step of that ascent will be Jesus’ elevation onto a cross on Mount Calvary, a greater mystery that can be perceived only by believing hearts. Although Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him, the challenge of faith is offered to all. The biblical scholar, Eugene Maly, comments: “We are free to accept or reject the ultimate source of our being, the ultimate destiny of our lives. No freedom can be more radical than that.” The evangelist John graphically records the negative reaction of the unbelieving followers of Jesus: “Many of his disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him” (Jn 6:66).
The Gospel reading proclaimed in this Sunday’s liturgical assembly ends on a very positive note. Addressing the Twelve, the most intimate circle of Jesus’ disciples, he said: “Do you also want to leave?” (Jn 6:67). Simon Peter answered truthfully, vocalizing the fundamental option of the Twelve: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God” (Jn 6:68-69). Responding with faith to Jesus’ self-revelation as the Holy One of God and source of life, Peter’s confession is a paradigm of the radical decision of the Eucharistic centered community of believers through all ages to love and follow Christ. Our fundamental decision for Christ excludes ambiguity and divided loyalty, and the ugly betrayal of Judas (cf. Jn 6:70-71). The choice we have made must be proven in our daily life. As Eugene Maly puts it wisely: “The life we live tells God which choice we have made.
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD
Leader: Jesus Lord, the Bread of wisdom, your revealing words are spirit and truth.
Assembly: Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
Leader: Jesus, Eucharistic Master, we believe in you who have said: “I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.” Nourished by the Eucharistic food, make us always yearn and toil for the coming of God’s kingdom.
Assembly: Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
Leader: Jesus, the Holy One of God, help us to radicalize in our life the fundamental choice we have made for you. Pour out your Spirit upon us and draw us close to you.
Assembly: Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
“Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” (Jn 6:68-69)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION
Prepared by: Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang, PDDM