19^th Sunday in Ordinary Time-B

I Reading: 1Kings 19:4-8: “ Lord,” Elijah said, “I have had enough. Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”

II Reading: Ephesians 4:30-5:2: Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God…Never have grudges against others, or lose your temper or raise your voice to anybody…Be friends with one another and kind, forgiving each other as readily as God forgave you in Christ. Imitate God that He loves you and follow Christ by loving as He loved you, place as a fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God.

Gospel: John 6: 41-51: Jesus said, “I am the bread that came down heaven.”

God has been kind to speak to human beings: He spoke first to the Patriarchs, through prophets, through many and various ways and finally through Jesus Christ who revealed to us his Father’s love and his plans to save us.

God continues to speak to us whenever we read the Scriptures or listen to the God’s Word being explained to us.

We should listen to God’s Word with humble and grateful heart; Jesus the Word of God(John Gospel) himself becomes our spiritual nourishment. God’s Word is creative, alive and active always is our spiritual food. There is nothing more pleasing to God than a family gathering daily to devoutly listen to the Scriptures being read or proclaimed. Only the Holy spirit can help us understand God’s Word (Jn 14:26). We must feed on God’s Word often.

The Way a Person Partakes of the Bread of Life, Jn 6:41-51

How one partakes of the Bread of Life, that is, how one comes to know Jesus personally, is the focus of this passage.

1. The religionists rebelled against the claims of Jesus (v. 41-43)

          a) They questioned Jesus’ origin

          b) They misunderstood the incarnation

          c) Jesus appealed: stop grumbling

2. A person must be drawn by God (v. 44-46)

          a) The result: He will be raised up at the last day

          b) He must be taught by God (God’s part)

          c) He must hear and learn through Christ (man’spart)

                    1) Because no man has seen God

                    2) Because Christ is from God and has seen God

3. A person must believe on Christ (v. 47-51)

          a) Believe He is the Bread of Life

          b) Believe He is “out of” heaven-has come to deliver man from death

          c) Believe He is the living bread-the One who gives life to man forever

          d) Believe He gave His flesh for the life of the world

Thought: A person must open his or her heart and mind to listen God’s Word.

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