19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today’s Gospel passage from John 6 continues the discourse on the Bread of Life. Jesus is very direct to remind the people that they follow him for material food rather than for God's sustenance. He challenges them asking;

Do you believe in the one God has sent?

Then people ask for signs! In the Gospel today people failed to grasp who Jesus is? Jesus warns the people their murmuring, grumbling, and disbelief will not solve their difficulty. To understand who Jesus is, they need divine enlightenment. They must be taught this by God and in turn humbly listen to God. Yes one can go to Jesus, as the source of eternal life, unless we are invited by God’s grace. We could say this beautiful prayer by St. Ignatius of Loyola:

Take Lord, and receive all my liberty, my memory, my understanding, and my entire will, all that I have and possess. Thou hast given all to me. To Thee, O Lord, I return it. All is Thine, dispose of it wholly according to Thy will. Give me Thy love and thy grace, for this is sufficient for me.”

I am reading an excellent book called ‘The Power of Silence’ by Cardinal Sarah. I

recommend you highly to read it.

Fr. Tom