Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B), August 2, 2015 – Ex 16, 2-4. 12-15; Eph 4, 17. 20-24; Jn 6, 24-35
Put on the new self (Eph 4, 24)
Jesus fully reveals God’s will for us.
Those who are looking for Jesus do something good. The only thing they lack is a better motive.
That is because they are not approaching Jesus as beginners, eager to delve into the mystery of the loaves and fish. They have not perceived in that sign any fuller sense. They are looking for him because they had their fill of the loaves.
After frankly telling them so, Jesus urges them to work for the food that endures. In effect, we are taught that we do not live by bread alone. We have needs that are not bodily. Rightly does St. Vincent de Paul warns: “If until now I all I have done is to give them [the poor] food, medicine and other things pertaining to the body, I have not done my duty” SV.FR X:334).
No, Jesus does not want us to shortchange ourselves, appraising ourselves well below our worth. It is not part of the Creator’s plans that we be resigned to being slaves, though with fleshpots to sit by and eating our fill of bread, as satisfied as the proverbial “satisfied pig.” We are expected to go through the trouble of “dissatisfied Socrates” to get hold of what is most important that leads to eternal solidarity.
Not that Jesus dismisses our temporal life and our needs. If it were the case, he would not have fed the multitude nor would he have gone about doing good. Yet the Son of God did not turn stones into bread; he did not mistake his messianic vocation for his personal fleeting satisfaction nor did he take himself to be a magician.
To know who we are and what we have to do to accomplish God’s works, we have to present ourselves as beginning students and learn from the Teacher who states: “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.” It is Jesus who reveals that our fulfillment lies in seeking first the kingdom of God and his justice.
To learn as disciples means essentially to empty ourselves in order to put on Jesus Christ (SV.FR XI:343). It is to count ourselves among the simple folks to whom God reveals things he hides from the wise and the learned. As John L. McKenzie explained it: “The simple see at once that the ‘way’ of Jesus is very hard to do, but easy to understand. It takes real cleverness and sophisticated intelligence to find ways to evade and distort the clear meaning of what Jesus said” (The Civilization of Christianity).
Moreover, discipleship is sharing in the Eucharist. This commits us to the poor, which will prove we bear the very divine seal of the one who proved himself by serving others and by offering his life as a ransom for all.
Lord Jesus, grant that we learn from you and fulfill ourselves according to your design.
Ross Reyes Dizon
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