21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B - 26/8/2012 - Gospel: Jn 6: 61-70
Words of Life
Jesus made five statements relating to the doctrine of the Bread of Life.
It is my Father who gives you bread from heaven...v33.
I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never be hungry v34
I am the living bread which has come down from heaven...v51
Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and I shall raise him up on the last day...v56
It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh has nothing to offer. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life...v63.
Most of the listeners of Jesus who first heard this message were initially excited and then soon disappointed. They made several complaints about his teaching.
Surely this is Jesus son of Joseph….We know his father and mother...v42….. How can this man give us his flesh to eat...v53.... This is intolerable language. How could anyone accept it?...v60
They failed to understand the teaching of Jesus on several grounds. The followed Jesus simply to have ordinary bread to eat (v26). They saw Jesus as 'country folk' from their village. They could not see God, the Father, speaking through Jesus (v44). They had no faith in Jesus (v47). They failed to understand that it is the spirit that gives life, not flesh. (v 64).
However, Peter on behalf of all believers, publicly confessed…
You have the message of eternal life and we believe. We know that you are the Holy One of God. v69
It is my Father who gives you bread from heaven...v33.
I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never be hungry v34
I am the living bread which has come down from heaven...v51
Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and I shall raise him up on the last day...v56
It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh has nothing to offer. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life...v63.
Most of the listeners of Jesus who first heard this message were initially excited and then soon disappointed. They made several complaints about his teaching.
Surely this is Jesus son of Joseph….We know his father and mother...v42….. How can this man give us his flesh to eat...v53.... This is intolerable language. How could anyone accept it?...v60
They failed to understand the teaching of Jesus on several grounds. The followed Jesus simply to have ordinary bread to eat (v26). They saw Jesus as 'country folk' from their village. They could not see God, the Father, speaking through Jesus (v44). They had no faith in Jesus (v47). They failed to understand that it is the spirit that gives life, not flesh. (v 64).
However, Peter on behalf of all believers, publicly confessed…
You have the message of eternal life and we believe. We know that you are the Holy One of God. v69
Written by Fr Vũđình Tường
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia
St Francis Xavier Catholic Parish
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane Australia