21st Sunday in Ordinary Time

My Dear Parishioners,

The Lord’s Day is our weekly observance of Christ’s Holy Resurrection. Today we mark the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time. For five weeks we have read Chapter 6 of Saint John’s Gospel which is called “ the Bread of Life Discourse.” The evangelist presents the words of Our Savior, which are the source of our Eucharistic theology, our belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. The scriptural texts for these past Sundays have provided us the opportunity to reflect upon that, which the documents of the Second Vatican Council call, “the source and summit of our life.”

Today’s Gospel periscope concludes Chapter six with some listeners of Jesus parting company with Him because He says, “ I am the Bread of Life” and other such disclosures. They will not accept such teaching, and so they reject this theology of the Eucharist. Although some reject the Lord’s words, the Apostles accept this teaching. Saint Peter, the leader of the Apostles, makes an affirmation of faith, “ We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” The Apostles will hand down this Eucharistic faith which we now possess today.

Making the decision to accept the teachings of Jesus which have come down to us from the Apostles is left to each individual. The Creator has given us the free will to accept or to reject, we decide. Each of us has to make the decision to assent to the Church’s teaching. When we wisely decide to welcome this apostolic faith we stand in the company of those blessed ones whose praises are sung in the Scriptures.

Let me say it again, the handing down of this faith is the work of parents. Mom and Dad, “…subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ,” they are the teachers in the family who witness to these mysteries by words and deeds. Together they instruct their children in the theology of the Holy Eucharist with the assistance of the Church’s ministers. By pointing their children to the Holy Mass and the reception of the Bread of Life, parents show their longing for their children to be one day in heaven as they recall Jesus’ words, “ I am the living bread that came down from heaven, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” Christian parents take seriously the spiritual responsibilities they have for the children God has given them. They can say with Joshua, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

May the Lord continue to bless our parish, our household of faith, and that through our Sunday Eucharistic liturgies we may always “ taste and see the goodness of the Lord.”

God bless you!
Father Zig