Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time /
Msgr. Owen F. Campion
The Sunday Readings
The First Book of Kings provides this weekend’s Liturgy of the Word with its first biblical reading.
As the name implies, the kings of Israel are the central figures in these books. However, prominence is given to the prophets, such as Elijah.
This weekend’s reading mentions Elijah. He wrote during the first half of the ninth century B.C.
In the reading, Elijah is weary and discouraged. He even asks God to take his life. Then he fell asleep. When he awoke, a hearth cake and jug of water were at his side. He ate and drank.
Then an angel came, implying that this sustenance was from God, and ordered him to continue his journey. Strengthened by God’s food, Elijah obeyed, finally arriving at the mountain of God, Mount Horeb.
The second reading this weekend is from the Epistle to the Ephesians.
A context surrounds all the epistles. Living the Gospel of Jesus was not easy in the first century A.D. Christians faced temptations from “the world, the flesh and the devil” at every side.
Christians in Ephesus faced a special challenge. Not only did they live in a thriving seaport and commercial center with all the vice and distractions usually associated with such centers, but Ephesus featured a major pagan shrine. Pilgrims who came to its great temple to Diana, the Roman goddess, filled the city.
The Christians had to maintain their own lives of faithfulness to Christ amidst these conditions.
This reading calls upon the Christian Ephesians to rid themselves of all bitterness and anger, and to rise above gossip and malice. On the positive side, it calls upon them to be compassionate and forgiving, noting that God had forgiven them.
St. John’s Gospel is the source of the last reading.
Jesus declares, “I am the bread that comes down from heaven.”
The audience does not accept this phrase well. They spurn Jesus.
The Lord then enters upon a discourse, one of the most magnificent passages in the New Testament. He is the only access to God for humans. He will rise to new life “on the third day.” It is important to note, when these words were spoken, that the Crucifixion was in the future.
Finally, the Lord says, “I am the bread of life. … I myself am the living bread.”
Anyone who consumes this bread attains everlasting life.
Reflection
All of us can identify with Elijah, the prophet of whom we heard in the reading from First Kings.
Whatever the circumstance, life for each of us can be wearying and distressing. Any of us can be reduced to desperation, as was Elijah.
However, today and always, the Church speaks to people this weekend with great consolation and reassurance through the Scripture readings.
First, it recalls for us, through the first reading, that God sustains us and strengthens us. He sustained and strengthened Elijah. The prophet was no dearer to God than we are.
Secondly, God has given us Jesus, the Son of God. Jesus is in our midst. He is in our world. He shares human nature with us. Born of Mary, a human, Jesus is as human as we are.
Jesus is indeed the “bread of life.” Aptly, this reading is associated with the Eucharist. The food given mercifully by God, however, is more than material food, composed of bread and wine. It is divine food, the Body and Blood of the Lord. It refreshes our souls.
The last element in this weekend’s lesson comes again from Elijah.
Life continues. Its hardships do not stop. Such is human life. As disciples, indeed to achieve eternal life, we must continue our long walk to the mountain of God. More often than not, it will be traveling uphill. But God will give us all the strength that we require in life. He awaits us with everlasting life and peace. †