The 19 th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B Readings, Lectionary 117 Begin in prayer Spend a few moments in prayer before reading the Scripture. Ask the Lord to let his Word speak to your heart. As I try to imitate you, Lord, remove all bitterness from my heart and help me to forgive as your Son has forgiven me. May my faith ring forth so that we might all live in love Be with me now, Holy Spirit, as I prepare my homily for next weekend. Guide my words and my life to reflect the joy you bring. Amen. Liturgical Context Our summer reflection on the Eucharist continues as Jesus Discourse on the Bread of Life is proclaimed today. The First Reading also reveals a profound theology of Eucharist. It is thus a very appropriate time for all of us to reflect upon the importance of the Eucharist in our everyday lives. Today s liturgy is a wonderful springboard for that reflection. Approach the Text Read the Scripture for this Sunday several times. Let its words and phrases truly affect you. Use the Lectio Divina method (available from PastoralPlanning.com as part of this homily kit) to allow the Word to fill your heart and excite you about the homily you are preparing. Begin by reading through all the readings for this weekend.
FIRST READING: 1 Kings 19:4-8 "This is enough, O Lord! Take my life." Elijah is beaten and broken. He is afraid, depressed, and very alone. He went alone to the desert. Elijah knew that Jezebel was in hot pursuit of him for destroying the pagan gods she had erected and established in the kingdom so people could pay homage to them. Elijah, aware of his predicament, sat down and prayed for death. "This is enough, O Lord! Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers." I simply do not want to run anymore! I am too tired. As he sat there, alone and dejected, an angel appeared to him. When angels appear in Sacred Scripture they reflect a manifestation of the divine an epiphany, a manifestation of God s presence. What did the angel do? The angel ordered Elijah to get up and eat. Not once, but twice a second time the angel ordered him to get up and eat or the journey would be too long for him. Life's journey will be too long and hard for him without the nourishment of life-giving bread. Just as our life s journey would be too long for us without the life-giving nourishment of the Eucharist. It is obvious why this text was chosen to accompany Jesus discourse on the Bread of Life. This Scripture passage foreshadowed Christ in the Eucharist. When a text foreshadows the fulfillment of that text in the Christ event it is called a type. God was present to Elijah in the bread, the Bread of Presence, the Bread of nourishment, The Latin root of the word companion is: cum with, and panisbread. A companion is one who breaks bread. Table fellowship is a covenant relationship. Meal fellowship is the most intimate thing we can do. God shared a meal with Elijah and established a covenant with him. Eucharist answers the question for us as it did for Elijah, What happens when all is seemingly lost? For Elijah God gave him bread not once, but twice. God promises to be with us and used and uses real signs of that presence-- signs we experience in our sacramental symbols bread, wine, cross, light, word, water, oil, hands. God promises to be with us and uses real signs of that presence to prove it. For Elijah it was the Bread of Presence presence in absence. In truth, as afraid as Elijah was, and no matter how alone he felt he was NOT alone. God sent a manifestation of himself to reveal his presence just as he does for us through the Eucharist and his presence in the Christian community. From a Biblical perspective bread was considered a sign of God s strength a gift to humanity in order to strengthen them. Bread was also a sign of hospitality wisdom, intelligence, peace, and life. Bread was also a sign of the eschatological reign of God all are fed in the last days; God will one day satisfy every human hunger. As stated, today s reading is Preparing the Homily Mary Birmingham PastoralPlanning.com Page 2
understood as a literary type for the miraculous feedings of the Gospel. The pattern is familiar. The holy man is given food. The amount of food is designated. Objection is raised that the amount is insufficient (Elijah is given bread twice). The holy man ignores the insufficiency and demands that the meager amount be distributed anyway. The hunger of the crowd is alleviated and there is more to go around even after all have had their fill. Elijah looks forward not only to Christ, the Bread of Life, but also to Jesus feeding stories in the Gospel. For your reflection: Have you ever been to the point of despair and seemingly lost all hope? What does this Scripture teach us in regard to such moments? In what way, if any, does this speak to your life (or someone you know) at this time? What does this reading teach us about our sacramental symbols? What human hunger is within you that you wish God would satisfy before you die? SECOND READING: Ephesians 4:30--5:2 Live in love, as Christ loved us. Today s reading is part of a baptismal liturgy and is parenetical as we learned last week a parenesis is a text devoted to moral exhortation a challenge to live the ethical demands of the Gospel. Today s letter is a parenesis. The catechism inherent in this reading asserts that the Body of Christ is made up of both Jew and Gentile. The ethical imperative states that both groups all people must strive for unity of the Body. The reader is invited to grow more fully into their identity and what they really are one body, one faith, one Spirit, one Lord, one baptism, one God and Father of all. The letter invites the reader to become what they were created to be to grow in their awareness and lived reality of their baptism. The reading highlights and upholds ethical virtues of humility, patience love, and forgiveness. Christians are to live the Great Commandment love of God and love of neighbor and self. Faithful Christians can do no less than live the Gospel imperative in response to the great gift of baptismal faith they have been given. There is an inherent profession of baptismal faith in this text which is why it is believed to have been part of a baptismal liturgy. The profession is a call to faith and a call to unity. We are not alone when we consider the sins of exclusion and alienation in our own communities today. Such exclusion and alienation is a fact of life when people gather it is an outgrowth of sin. Preparing the Homily Mary Birmingham PastoralPlanning.com Page 3
Gospel living, however, demands a different reality. We are called to be counter-cultural; we are called to a witness of love and unity rather than discord and division. It is a call to strive for unity when rupture lurks around every dark corner. How dare we hold one another in contempt when we all share the same heavenly Father? There is no room for such behavior in the Christian community. For your reflection: There are many Catholic Christians who slander the good name of others, who show malice toward people of other faith denominations, especially Muslims, and who believe that their own brand of Catholicism their form of individual prayer and piety is the only righteous path to God. What does today s reading have to teach us about such attitudes? How would I evaluate my own life in light of the ethical demands of today s reading? Do I love everyone as I should? Am I more concerned with fostering unity or do I relish engagement in things that foster disunity? In what way do I witness to love and unity out in the world? What one thing could I do to improve and more fully live the ethical imperatives of today s reading? Sharing this as part of your homily may touch many hearts. GOSPEL: John 6:41-51 "Stop murmuring among yourselves." We must understand that Jesus Discourse on the Bread of Life follows his miraculous feeding of the multitudes. Thus, as part of our reflection it is important to explore the underlying meaning of that miracle in order to gain more insight into Jesus teaching in today s Gospel. John s Gospel is known as the Gospel of signs that is, the Gospel of supernatural manifestations of God s mighty power and saving work. A sign is an extraordinary act with strong symbolic meaning that reveals Jesus plan of salvation. Through allusion to the symbols and the underlying meaning of the sign, readers and observers are led to experience the supernatural truth in the sign. The underlying reality or meaning is not always easily observed. John s Jesus frequently assumes his role as Teacher as he mystagogically (mystagogia origin: exploring the mysteries) explains the meaning of the signs. That is exactly what Jesus is doing today. He mystagogically explains a theology of Eucharist. He is the true Bread from Heaven. The signs in John s Gospel (there were seven signs) were understood as God s revelation and encounter with believers. The signs were always understood as secondary--that which the sign pointed to was primary. The signs were an invitation to go beyond the sign itself and encounter Preparing the Homily Mary Birmingham PastoralPlanning.com Page 4
the revelation of Jesus, the Christ, Son of Man, and Savior of the World. The story of Jesus feeding the multitudes occurs in all the gospels. John s is the only Gospel where Jesus mystagogically unpacks what is meant in the miraculous feeding sign. Jesus is revealed as Bread for the Life for the world--he is the Bread and the Giver of Bread. Meaning can be gleaned from all the details hidden within the story. The Gospel account of the feeding story tells us that Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee the place where he began his ministry and performed his first sign at the wedding feast of Cana. The first sign took place among a few invited guests; this sign takes place on a mountainside with a huge gathered crowd. By now word of his miraculous mission and ministry had spread. Mountains were places of manifestation and places where God spoke with authority. The mountain location could be significant for another reason the Beatitudes were presented on a mountain as well. Perhaps Jesus was alerting the people that this Discourse is as important as was the Beatitudes. John the Evangelist wants his audience to know that this sign is given high priority. John used a technique in which reflecting on a past event explained the event at hand. Lazarus was raised from the dead by Jesus who would himself be raised and ascended. Thus the sign of Lazarus helped explain Jesus own resurrection that would come later. The sign of loaves as bread from heaven looked toward and gave meaning to the resurrection only the Resurrected One could be Bread from Heaven. Another detail: Passover is upon them. One of John s primary themes is to show that Jesus himself replaced the traditional rituals of Israel. Jesus then, becomes the new Passover. He passed from death to life. His passage brought about deliverance, just as Moses led the people through the Red Sea and delivered them from slavery, so too Jesus death and resurrection liberated and freed all people from eternal slavery and bondage to sin. Jesus as Bread from Heaven is the new manna in the desert. In the desert the people were fed enough; in this Gospel they ate their fill with an abundance left over. Talk of Passover also evokes memory of the fateful hour in which Jesus was aware that his time had come to pass from this life into the welcoming arms of his Father. Jesus took, gave thanks, and shared the bread and fish with the people. Hints of the institution narrative at the Last Supper cannot be missed. The remaining leftovers were gathered into twelve baskets by the Twelve Apostles an allusion to the replacement of the Twelve Tribes of Israel with the Twelve Apostles who would continue to usher in the New Covenant. All the fragments were gathered into one basket an allusion to the one community the community of saints gathered together to share the heavenly banquet at the end of time. Preparing the Homily Mary Birmingham PastoralPlanning.com Page 5
Abundant bread will be with us always. Our cupboard will never again be bare; humanity is promised a neverexhausted table of plenty. The sign in today s Gospel ultimately teaches us about the passage from death to eternal life and slavery to freedom and spiritual food for the journey Bread from Heaven. Every celebration of Eucharist celebrates and makes present that passage we too pass with Christ into grace-filled freedom through our celebration of the Eucharist. For your reflection: Why does Jesus say that signs are not what is important perhaps necessary to get our attention but they are not the most important thing what is the most important meaning behind the signs Jesus performed? What does it mean to you that eating the Bread of Life is intimately connected to Jesus Passover from death to eternal life in the resurrection? Why is our celebration of the Eucharist so important for our lives? What hungers do you possess that the spiritual food of the Eucharist can satisfy? Take an inward glance Think about how the call to holiness is embedded in this week s liturgy: * [1 Kings] "He prayed for death." Has it ever gotten to this point for you? Your work as a prophet can be demanding: measure your stamina right now and determine for yourself how much zeal you have "stored up"--is it enough? * [Psalm] "Blush with shame." Does shame over your own sins ever cause you to blush? Could you ever be accused of being scrupulous? How often do you go to confession? Which sins of yours should cause you to blush? * [Ephesians] "All bitterness." What bitterness do you harbor in your heart? Do you hold grudges? How do you treat others after they've asked for forgiveness? Do you forgive and forget? * "Do we not know his father and mother." How much are you still the child your parents raised? Are your parents and family proud of you? What did they think about your decision to be the Lord's minister? Did their reaction ever change? * "Stop murmuring." What causes you to murmur under your breath? Are you careful in speech, especially in front of parishioners? Do you have an open mind? When it comes to theological or ecclesiastical issues--how open are you to the "other" point of view? * "Whoever believes has eternal life." Is it as simple as this? Do all those who believe have eternal life--or is something more needed? Do you preach a narrow gate? Is it wide enough for all those whom the Lord finds worthy? How might your homilies better strike the necessary balance between mere belief--and a Christian life lived in response to that faith? Preparing the Homily Mary Birmingham PastoralPlanning.com Page 6
Take an outward glance Think about how the call to holiness is embedded in the daily experiences of the people to whom you will be speaking: * [1 Kings] "Strengthened by that food." What more do your brothers and sisters need--beyond the Eucharist--as spiritual food for the journey of faith? Fed by both sacrament and Word, are your parishioners receiving enough of both? * [Ephesians] "You were sealed for the day of redemption." What connection can your sisters and brothers draw between their Baptism and the Eucharist they receive each Sunday? How can you strengthen that theoretical, and practical, bond? Do you suppose that they value their having been "sealed" enough? * [Ephesians] "Be imitators of God." How can your parishioners be imitators of God at home? at work? What practical reminders might they need to assist them? * "They shall all be taught by God." Do you suppose that your brothers and sisters take the homiletic words they hear as being "taught by God"--what differences do they perceive between "God" and their homilist? Which of God's teachings are hardest for your parishioners to accept? Speaking of Scripture Preparing the 8-minute homily Can you taste and see how the good the Lord is? Your homily preparation has provided an opportunity, maybe, for contemplation of the connection between your Eucharistic piety and how you live out your Eucharistic identity. Try to preach a homily drenched in faith this Sunday: let your assembly hear a faith-filled Christian speak to them about your need for Christ's body and blood. Timing Homily notes Memo 30 seconds Greet everyone and say one thing to connect with what is on the mind of the community news, weather, sports, parish events, visitors, a special group which is present, or other. Humor is good here. God is sending his love through you to your listeners. 1-2 minutes Tell a story or provide an image that will fire the imagination of your listeners. Do not launch into a treatment of the readings. This image or story must be one that is easy to understand by everyone, young and old. Avoid using standard jokes here. Instead, as you prepare the homily, what comes to mind as illustrative of the message in the readings? Keep this very short. It takes any group of people a few seconds to get used to the sound of your voice in a room and this is a way to begin that will help your listeners hear you. Again, make sure this stays brief. The point of the homily is not you or your story but the Word of God and this image or story is a way to set the stage for that. Preparing the Homily Mary Birmingham PastoralPlanning.com Page 7
3-4 minutes Connect that image now to the message in today s readings. Again, avoid providing commentary on the readings or exegesis which is disconnected from your image. You want people to remember what you say and take it home. What hope does the message today offer to your listeners? 1-2 minutes Return to the liturgy. Gesture toward the altar and say, Let s come back here now to this liturgy You re setting the stage for what will follow. Make a quick connection between the message today and the Eucharist. 30 second Thank your listeners and end on a very positive note. Make two or three quick points here. Remember that the message must fit into the lives of the people in front of you. How will celebrating Eucharist and receiving communion change you and your listeners? How will it help them incorporate the message of today s readings into their daily lives? Sit down. Conclude in prayer To conclude your preparation, think about the community for whom you ve just prepared to preach or teach, and spend a few moments in prayer. O Lord, your love is enough for us! Increase our faith, and our love, for the Body and Blood of your Son. I open myself to the wisdom you alone can give and I offer myself as the earthen vessel which will carry your Word to these people. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Preparing the Homily Mary Birmingham PastoralPlanning.com Page 8