Homily: Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)
John 6:41-51
11 August 2024
Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez
We are all irritated when the cost of gasoline increases. But for car owners, we don’t really have a choice, do we? Without gas, our cars will not run! I recall this analogy when I think of Church volunteers who work so hard and over-exert themselves that they experience burnout. Sometimes, it is frustration from lack of parish support or lukewarmness of the community that causes church workers to lose interest in their mission. If you keep your car running even when it signals that the tank is almost empty, it can be a dangerous situation for you.
What we go through when we experience misfortunes in life can be likened to the frustration of Elijah in the passage from the First Book of Kings. He has lost his appetite for doing God’s work. Elijah is frustrated to the point of death. He has not been successful in calling the people away from their sinful lives. He has had enough. So, he calls on God to take his life instead. He says “Enough Lord! Take my life! I am a failure.” (1 Kings 19:4) Instead of obliging him, God reaches out to him through an angel, offering him cake and water, providing sustenance and encouragement so he may live and continue on his journey.
On this Sunday’s gospel something similar is happening. Jesus is also having a hard time convincing people that He is who He claims Himself to be. “How can he say, I have come down from heaven?” (John 6:38) The objection centres on the fact that they feel they know Him and are familiar with his parentage. How can He claim to have a heavenly origin when they are certain of His human origins? Assured of the love of the Father, Jesus perseveres in His mission and continues to be a source of nourishment for others. When we lose our appetite for life, we should imitate Jesus. That like our Lord Jesus, we should be secured in God the Father’s love for us and we should carry on with what we are supposed to do. In so doing, we can become ourselves a source of nourishment for our brothers and sisters in need. I believe that all of us at some point in our lives had to deal with toxic persons. This can be very frustrating as well. What someone posted on his Facebook wall can be a good reminder. “When a toxic person can no longer control you, he/she will try to control how others see you. The misinformation will feel unfair, but stay above it, trusting that other people will eventually see the truth, just like you did.”
It is not unusual for many of us to experience frustration. Some wonder why they were ever born. Some wish God would take them and save them from their suffering. Others lose faith in God altogether. However, this should not be the case. In fact, as brothers and sisters in Christ, we should support one another and help those who are losing hope. St. Paul reminds us to “Be kind to one another, compassionate and forgiving as God has forgiven us in Christ.” (Ephesians 4:32) Those of us who are fond of watching K-Dramas, must have noticed that the South Koreans often say: “Fighting!” to assure the person in difficult situations not to give up for he/she is not alone. In Filipino we say: “Laban lang! Habang may buhay, may pag-asa!”
Despite the fact that we are often discouraged, our journey through life is always blessed. We are assured that God loves us and provides us with what we need for our life’s journey. For us Catholic Christians, we see this divine assistance through our spiritual nourishment in the very Body and Blood of Jesus offered to us in the eucharistic feast we celebrate. He also sends us help and encouragement through our friends, families, and other people who become sources of guidance and inspiration. Let us trust that God is with us at all times! Let us taste and see the goodness of the Lord! (Psalm 34:8)
Sunday Gospel Reflections 