August 15, 2021 – 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Theme : “Living in Christ: True Bread for Eternal Life”
Homily by Fr. Erel Villanueva
First Reading: Proverbs 9 : 1 – 6
Second Reading: Ephesians 5 : 15 – 20
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 111 : 1 – 10
Gospel Reading: John 6 : 51 – 58
Growing in the Divine Life
For two Sundays now, the Lord emphasizes to us that He is the Living Bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of it or believes will have everlasting and divine life.
What I want to share is about growing and bearing fruits in Eternal Life. This is a reminder of our responsibility and accountability as recipients of this eternal life.
Eternal Life is both a gift and a responsibility. Today, I would give importance to the word “eat.” The word has been mentioned several times in this chapter specially from verses 47 -58. …the one may eat of it and not die, if any one eats of this bread, whoever eats and many more.
First it gives us an idea that eating is connected to growing. Naturally we need to eat so we can grow. Spiritually, we need to continue to abide with Jesus and “eat” His Word and His body and drink His blood in order to grow and be sustained in this divine life. We must grow in faith, love, service, and in our relationship with Him so that we could be life-sharers and givers to the world.
So, to “eat” not only means to partake or put something in your mouth to chew. Figuratively speaking, it means to believe, or to abide, obey, surrender, and be one with Jesus. We should be willing to submit to the Lordship of Jesus in our lives. So every time we partake of body and blood, when the priest would say – “Receive The Body and Blood of Christ” and you say “Amen,” what you are really saying is “Yes Lord, I’m willing to surrender and submit to your will, have your way in me, not my will but your will be done in my life.” That’s our responsibility and accountability as recipients of this divine life.
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