Fr. Martin ALI KEKE NDEMSOU
XXIst SUNDAY OF O.T. YEAR B
Readings: Jos 24: 1-2a, 15-17, 18b; Ps 34: 2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21; Eph 5:21-32; Jn 6: 60-69
“Simon Peter answered him: Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy one of God.”
Jesus’ great discourse on the bread of life (Jn 6) ends up with the disagreement (and departure) of many of his followers. These ones decided to leave him because Jesus had told them that he would give them his own flesh to eat. In fact, they did not have faith in him. That is why, Jesus clearly told them: “There are some of you who do not believe.”
Indeed, acknowledging that Jesus is the word of God and as such he has the words of eternal life requires faith. Practically, those who remained with Jesus that day were only the apostles. Through Simon Peter, they answered Jesus: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”
Today we, too, need the faith of the apostles to see Jesus’ real presence among us in the Eucharist and in his words of eternal life. Regarding the faith without which nobody can see Jesus’ real presence in the Sacrament of the Eucharist and remain with him, Pope Francis says in Lumen Fidei: “Those who believe, see; they see with a light that illumines their entire journey, for it comes from the risen Lord, the morning star which never sets.” For that, we should everyday ask Jesus, the Word of God made flesh, to increase our faith in the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
In addition, faith enables us to choose to serve the living God instead of serving idols which cannot save us. This is why, in the first reading, trusting in the living God who liberated them from slavery in Egypt, the Israelites decided to serve him instead of idols. They, in a certain way, professed their faith in the Lord saying: “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord for the service of other gods. For it was the Lord, our God, who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, out of a state of slavery. He performed those great miracles before our eyes and protected us along our entire journey and among peoples through whom we passed. Therefore we also will serve him.”
Our faith in Jesus, who is our liberator, must free us from everything that enslaves us. It must equally make us capable of seeing the goodness of God at work in our present world. “Lord, increase our faith so that we may see your real presence in the Eucharist and serve you while serving our brothers and sisters.”
XXIst SUNDAY OF O.T. YEAR B
Readings: Jos 24: 1-2a, 15-17, 18b; Ps 34: 2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21; Eph 5:21-32; Jn 6: 60-69
“Simon Peter answered him: Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy one of God.”
Jesus’ great discourse on the bread of life (Jn 6) ends up with the disagreement (and departure) of many of his followers. These ones decided to leave him because Jesus had told them that he would give them his own flesh to eat. In fact, they did not have faith in him. That is why, Jesus clearly told them: “There are some of you who do not believe.”
Indeed, acknowledging that Jesus is the word of God and as such he has the words of eternal life requires faith. Practically, those who remained with Jesus that day were only the apostles. Through Simon Peter, they answered Jesus: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”
Today we, too, need the faith of the apostles to see Jesus’ real presence among us in the Eucharist and in his words of eternal life. Regarding the faith without which nobody can see Jesus’ real presence in the Sacrament of the Eucharist and remain with him, Pope Francis says in Lumen Fidei: “Those who believe, see; they see with a light that illumines their entire journey, for it comes from the risen Lord, the morning star which never sets.” For that, we should everyday ask Jesus, the Word of God made flesh, to increase our faith in the Sacrament of the Eucharist.
In addition, faith enables us to choose to serve the living God instead of serving idols which cannot save us. This is why, in the first reading, trusting in the living God who liberated them from slavery in Egypt, the Israelites decided to serve him instead of idols. They, in a certain way, professed their faith in the Lord saying: “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord for the service of other gods. For it was the Lord, our God, who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, out of a state of slavery. He performed those great miracles before our eyes and protected us along our entire journey and among peoples through whom we passed. Therefore we also will serve him.”
Our faith in Jesus, who is our liberator, must free us from everything that enslaves us. It must equally make us capable of seeing the goodness of God at work in our present world. “Lord, increase our faith so that we may see your real presence in the Eucharist and serve you while serving our brothers and sisters.”