Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
One of the things that I enjoy most in life is a great meal. I especially enjoy getting dressed up and going out to a “fancy” restaurant, you know the one that is receiving rave reviews and could take months to get a reservation at? I love everything about it, the ritual of gathering with others to break bread, the way the table is set, the service I am about to enjoy as well as the extravagant menu and all the options that are available for me to order. Essentially great food at a super nice place surrounded by awesome people.
Many people in our world today are drawn to “a great meal.” We love to watch TV shows like Top Chef and Chopped. People head out to celebrity-chef-owned restaurants by Gordon Ramsey, Bobby Flay, Wolfgang Puck and Emeril to name a few. Tik Tok is filled with people who are sharing recipes for others to create in their homes. Why? Because there is something about a great meal!
In the Gospel today, Jesus once again gives us an invitation, it is an invitation to a great meal, with some awesome people, the real deal. He tells us that He is the bread of life, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever.” Wow, that is some invitation, why aren’t more people taking Him up on His offer?
I believe it is because so many of us do not understand the great gift of the Eucharist, the greatest meal ever. We have preconceived notions; we challenge and tear down instead of listening. We don’t open our hearts fully to what God the Father is offering us at this meal and in the Eucharist. We are like the crowd in today’s Gospel, full of doubt and questioning Jesus’ words and invitation because He could not possibly be who He says He is with Joseph and Mary as parents. Many of us find it easier to ignore the invitation and prepare a “meal” for ourselves. The problem is that meal we prepare more often than not will leave us empty and will not lead us to eternal life!
The reality is that Jesus invites us to this banquet, the best meal at the most amazing restaurant prepared by the greatest chef. That meal is offered to us every Sunday at Mass and it is the Eucharist, the Bread of Life. Without this bread, we have no life within us. Jesus wants to be a part of ourselves so badly that He comes in a very simple way, under the appearance of bread, so that He can become a part of us. Jesus becomes present in each and every one of us when we receive Him. Jesus tells us that “whoever eats this bread will live forever.”
Today and during this week, take a few moments to really reflect on the gift of the Eucharistic meal, take the time to sit in silence and listen. From personal experience I can tell you that it is life changing. It has changed my heart and life and continues to do so. Be open to this invitation, pray about it and trust that Jesus and the Eucharist are who He says they are and always remember that you have a seat at the greatest meal ever!
