Deacon Tom Anthony

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 119

Reading 1 Prv 9:1-6

Wisdom has built her house,
she has set up her seven columns;
she has dressed her meat, mixed her wine,
yes, she has spread her table.
She has sent out her maidens; she calls
from the heights out over the city:
"Let whoever is simple turn in here;
To the one who lacks understanding, she says,
Come, eat of my food,
and drink of the wine I have mixed!
Forsake foolishness that you may live;
advance in the way of understanding."

Responsorial Psalm Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Reading 2 Eph 5:15-20

Brothers and sisters:
Watch carefully how you live,
not as foolish persons but as wise,
making the most of the opportunity,
because the days are evil.
Therefore, do not continue in ignorance,
but try to understand what is the will of the Lord.
And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery,
but be filled with the Spirit,
addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,
singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts,
giving thanks always and for everything
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.

Alleluia Jn 6:56

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
remains in me and I in him, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 6:51-58

Jesus said to the crowds:
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give
is my flesh for the life of the world."

The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying,
"How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
Jesus said to them,
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood,
you do not have life within you.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
has eternal life,
and I will raise him on the last day.
For my flesh is true food,
and my blood is true drink.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
remains in me and I in him.
Just as the living Father sent me
and I have life because of the Father,
so also the one who feeds on me
will have life because of me.
This is the bread that came down from heaven.
Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died,
whoever eats this bread will live forever."

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS,

 From the moment that we were conceived in our mother’s womb God has offered us everything without conditions or price. As the reading from the Book of Wisdom indicates, all knowledge, wisdom, and understanding is spread out before us like a banquet feast. We are invited to feast and enjoy on what is given. In contrast to the physical world, when we do eat, we will not become satisfied but only yearn for more of the pure things that are offered. The more we partake in what is provided, the more joy and wantonness we will encounter. This is a promise from God and a vision of all of the good things to come in a right relationship with Him. He does not only invite but pleads for us to go to Him and surrender everything to Him. He truly does have all the answers if only we dedicate our lives to search for them. Is there really a choice in the matter when things are put into perspective: A life in a relationship with Our Father who created us with pure love or a life separated from Him?

Jesus Christ reveals that an even deeper, intimate relationship is possible through the Eucharist. He explains how we can be nurtured mentally and spiritually through His Word and His Body and Blood by listening to what He says and partaking in the Eucharist which is truly His Body and Blood. When we come forward and are open to this reception we are then fully united with Him physically, mentally, and spiritually. The experience of Him inside us brings our relationship and union with Him to a perfect level. In that moment, everything that is imperfect within us is transformed into perfection. It becomes a moment in time where everything is as it should be. It also provides a window into our future state of being when the physical no longer matters and the spiritual becomes who we are in unison with our Creator for eternity.

God loves us so much that we are asked to call Him Father. It is through Jesus Christ that we enter into the experience of the Holy Trinity: The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. The relationship of the three consumes us and molds us into a perfect creation. Through the Eucharist, this can be seen and felt. Living this experience in the present then allows us to witness God’s Creation in a way that He wanted us to live it in the first place. We can then be partakers in His Will instead of our own thoughts and desires that are defective in the first place; leading us into imperfection and disordered desires.

Paul urges us to be filled with the spirit instead of that which is offered in the world and tempts us to focus on physical satisfaction. That which is spiritual has no limitations while the temptations of the flesh limit us in every possible way and dull our relationship with God. In our brokenness there is always the danger of settling for less which encompasses everything that we see, feel, touch, smell, and taste. When we immerse ourselves in our spiritual side then all of these things take on a higher dimension because God is fully engaged and involved. It is then that we can become godlike because we are His children.

All that Jesus has revealed through His Word and the Eucharist is a revelation to what He wants for us. It offers a map to joy and contentment with us and His creation. Submission to Him and uniting ourselves to Him raises us up to new heights. What we experience there is much viewing the world from the highest mountain: everything is displayed in all of its perfection and majesty.

Deacon Tom