{"id":5090,"date":"2018-08-09T09:53:19","date_gmt":"2018-08-09T08:53:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/?p=5090"},"modified":"2018-07-17T09:56:13","modified_gmt":"2018-07-17T08:56:13","slug":"commentary-on-the-19th-sunday-b-12-08-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/commentary-on-the-19th-sunday-b-12-08-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"Commentary on the 19th Sunday (B) 12.08.2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

JOHN 6: 41\u201351\u00a0\u00a0 BREAD OF LIFE, Part II<\/strong><\/p>\n

Ordinary Time, Sunday 19B<\/strong><\/p>\n

A\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 TEXT<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jews\u2019 Objection<\/strong><\/p>\n

41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, \u201cI AM the bread which came down from heaven.\u201d 42 They said, \u201cIs not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, \u2018I have come down from heaven\u2019?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Who Comes to Jesus<\/strong><\/p>\n

43 Jesus answered them, \u201cDo not murmur among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.<\/em><\/p>\n

45 It is written in the prophets, \u2018And they shall all be taught by God.\u2019 Every one who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. 46 Not that any one has seen the Father except him who is from God; he has seen the Father.<\/em><\/p>\n

Eternal Life<\/strong><\/p>\n

47 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.<\/em><\/p>\n

48 I AM the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die.<\/em><\/p>\n

Life\u2013giving Bead<\/strong><\/p>\n

51 I AM the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

B\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 EXPLANATION<\/strong><\/p>\n

41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, \u201cI AM the bread which came down from heaven.\u201d 42 They said, \u201cIs not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he now say, \u2018I have come down from heaven\u2019?\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Jews<\/em>\u201d \u2013To this point it was the \u201ccrowd\u201d, or their remnant, that was on stage. In John\u2019s Gospel when he refers to the \u201cJews<\/em>\u201d he considers only those of their leaders who were hostile to Jesus. They would be synonymous with unbelievers. Reference to them here is an indication that Jesus will encounter hostility to his teaching contained in this chapter. Even some disciples will leave him.<\/p>\n

\u201cmurmured at him<\/em>\u201d \u2014 When the Israelites were in the wilderness they murmured against Moses (Ex. 16: 2, 7, 8; 17: 2\u20133; Nm. 11: 1). Now their descendants \u201cmurmur<\/em>\u201d against Jesus.<\/p>\n

\u201che said, \u2018I AM the bread which came down from heaven.<\/em>\u2019\u201d \u2014 Jesus repeats his claim that he is divine (I AM<\/em>) and has come from heaven (see verses 33\u201338).<\/p>\n

They said, \u201cIs not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?<\/em> \u2014 \u201cIs not this Jesus?<\/em>\u201d should be understood as a disparaging remark. They despised him.<\/p>\n

The \u201cJews<\/em>\u201d were convinced that \u201cwe know<\/em>\u201d. How wrong they were. See a somewhat similar parallel in Jn 7: 27\u201329.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow does he now say, \u2018I have come down from heaven\u2019?<\/em>\u201d \u2014 In v. 44 he will reiterate that he has been sent by the Father. In v. 46 he will say that he is \u201cfrom God<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n

43 Jesus answered them, \u201cDo not murmur among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cJesus answered them, \u2018Do not murmur among yourselves<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Jesus does not respond to the two points made by the \u201cJews<\/em>\u201d concerning his origins, namely that he claims he is from heaven and they \u2018know\u2019 his earthly parents. He tells the \u201cJews<\/em>\u201d to stop complaining and arguing among themselves about his origins. The matter cannot be settled by arguments. The fact<\/em> of his origins is a matter of divine revelation. He does not deny that he has an earthly origin: he was born of Mary. This is an historical fact. That he was conceived by the Holy Spirit requires an act of faith in God\u2019s word.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day<\/em>\u201d \u2014 He repeats the content of verses 36\u201340: the Father draws people to accept Jesus by the words and works he performs through Jesus. To \u201cdraw<\/em>\u201d in this context means to bring them near to Jesus; they have to do their part to accept and join Jesus as is explained in the following verse.<\/p>\n

The Father \u201cdraws\u201d people near to Jesus by words and works. This is a gift from God; it is not a person\u2019s own initiative. The Second Vatican Council proclaimed: \u201cBefore this faith can be exercised, man must have the grace of God to move and assist him; he must have the interior help of the Holy Spirit, who moves the heart and converts it to God, who opens the eyes of the mind and makes it easy for all to accept and believe the truth\u201d (\u201cDei Verbum<\/em>\u201d, 5).<\/p>\n

45 It is written in the prophets, \u2018And they shall all be taught by God.\u2019 Every one who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me. 46 Not that any one has seen the Father except him who is from God; he has seen the Father.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIt is written in the prophets, \u2018And they shall all be taught by God.\u2019\u201d \u2014 <\/em>The quotation is from Isaiah 54: 13\u201314, \u201c<\/em>All your sons shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the prosperity of your sons. In righteousness you shall be established<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery one who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me<\/em>\u201d \u2014 It is not sufficient to hear the word of God. One must \u201clearn<\/em>\u201d from it. In other words, everyone who \u201chears<\/em>\u201d has a personal and positive role to play; the person must also make the effort to \u201clearn<\/em>\u201d. This is how one \u201ccomes<\/em>\u201d to Jesus, that is believes by accepting that he is from his \u201cFather<\/em>\u201d and commits oneself to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot that any one has seen the Father except him who is from God; he has seen the Father<\/em>\u201d \u2014 See Jn. 1: 18, \u201cNo one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known<\/em>\u201d. \u201cAnd the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth<\/em>\u201d (Jn. 1: 14). It is through Jesus, the incarnate Son, that people are \u201ctaught by God<\/em>\u201d. It is essential to believe in Jesus (Jn. 3: 32\u201334; 5: 37; 14:6\u201311).<\/p>\n

47 Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cTruly, truly, I say to you<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Another solemn saying is about to be pronounced.<\/p>\n

\u201che who believes has eternal life<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Note the present tense. Eternal life is a present reality; it is not something reserved for the future life: \u201cBut to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God<\/em>\u201d (Jn. 1: 12).<\/p>\n

48 I AM the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI AM the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die<\/em>. \u2014 This is a repeat of verses 31\u201333 because of the doubts and hostility of the \u201cJews<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n

51 I AM the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.\u2019<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI AM the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever<\/em>\u201d \u2014 Once again Jesus repeats what he has already proclaimed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI AM the living bread which came down from heaven<\/em>\u201d \u2014 See verse 35 for explanation of \u201cI AM<\/em>\u201d. This is the third time that Jesus uses this expression in today\u2019s passage: \u201cI AM the bread which came down from heaven<\/em>\u201d (v. 41); \u201cI AM the bread of life<\/em>\u201d (v. 48) and \u201cI AM the living bread which came down from heaven<\/em>\u201d. The \u201cbread of life<\/em>\u201d and \u201cthe living bread<\/em>\u201d both mean the bread that gives life.<\/p>\n

\u201cLiving bread<\/em>\u201d means bread which is so full of life it has to be shared.<\/p>\n

\u201cthe bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.<\/em>\u201d \u2014A paraphrase of these words would be as follows: \u2018I am bread from heaven. As bread, I nourish with heavenly, eternal life. How do I do that for the everlasting life of the world? Once you believe that I am the incarnate Son of God, the Word made flesh, you are being nourished. That is past tense; it has already taken place.<\/p>\n

That is not all; there is a future tense (verse 51c): \u201cthe bread which I shall give<\/em>\u201d. This future act is that I shall give \u201cmy flesh for the life of the world<\/em>\u201d. Jesus will give his \u201cflesh for the life of the world<\/em>\u201d on Calvary\u2019. He is referring to his crucifixion. \u201cAnd as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness so must the Son of man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life<\/em>\u201d (Jn. 3: 14-15). \u201cWhen you have lifted up the Son of man, then you will know that I AM he, and that I do nothing on my own authority but speak thus as the Father taught me\u201d<\/em> (Jn. 8: 28). Elsewhere he tells us that when he is \u201clifted up<\/em>\u201d on the cross he will \u201cdraw<\/em>\u201d people to him. The love of Jesus manifested on the cross for each of us is what draws us to him and to his Father. It is the greatest demonstration of his love.<\/p>\n

John has not yet mentioned the Eucharist. His reason is to emphasise the importance of faith, the theme of verses 22-51.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

C\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 APPLICATION<\/strong><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Our first thought must be \u2018what does this passage tell us about Jesus?<\/strong>\u2019 Then we will look to see what the implications are following from this, according to the passage.<\/p>\n

Three times Jesus uses the special term \u201cI AM<\/em>\u201d to claim that he is divine; he is God. That is what God called himself when Moses asked him to reveal his name. Jesus emphasises this by saying twice that he is \u201cfrom heaven<\/em>\u201d. He also adds that he is \u201cfrom God<\/em>\u201d and it was \u201cthe Father who sent me<\/em>\u201d.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Why did he come from heaven?<\/strong> Because God loved the world so much he sent him, his Son, to redeem the sinful world and let people become God\u2019s family, his children, sharing his life, for eternity (Jn. 3: 16). God\u2019s wisdom chose to reveal that his Son incarnate would do this by describing his nourishing life\u2013giving action as \u201cbread<\/em>\u201d, \u201cthe bread of life<\/em>\u201d, \u201cthe living bread\u201d<\/em>. Bread nourishes and this special bread from heaven nourishes with life, God\u2019s life. Because it is God\u2019s life, it is everlasting.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 What does this passage tell us about the role of God the Father?<\/strong> He shares three gifts of love with people. On his own initiative, therefore it is his gift, God sent his Son<\/em> into the world to save it from sin and evil. He gives a second gift, he \u201cdraws<\/em>\u201d people to Jesus and it is revealed in Jesus that they may receive the third gift which is \u201ceternal life<\/em>\u201d. This passage tells us that this divine life is not something people have to wait for in the future but it is theirs here and now: \u201cHe who believes has <\/em>[present tense] eternal life<\/em>\u201d (v. 47).<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How does the Father \u201cdraw<\/em>\u201d people to Jesus?<\/strong> He does this through sharing his authority and power with him. As John said earlier in this chapter, the Father \u201cset his seal<\/em>\u201d on Jesus (Jn. 6: 27). This means that Jesus has the authority and power to share his own life with people. Next, by his words, he reveals what he has seen and knows about his Father. Thirdly, his works, that is his ministry and miracles, are signs of the power of God and of his presence in the midst of the world that needs to be saved. It is only Jesus, or those on whom he has \u201cset his seal\u201d as his official representatives, who can reveal his Father.<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 How do people respond when the Father \u201cdraws\u201d them?<\/strong> Like all students and disciples they must listen and learn. They listen<\/em> to the Father when they listen<\/em> to the Word of God made flesh. They listen<\/em> to Jesus when they reflect on his life in the Gospels. Then they must learn<\/em> by making Jesus\u2019 words and deeds their own by understanding them. The prejudices of the \u201cJews\u201d blinded them to the truth. They allowed their human knowledge to block what Jesus was revealing. They gave their knowledge precedence over his declaration. They had been taught by God\u2019s Son in the flesh but they had not listened to or learned from him. Their minds were closed. All those who come close to Jesus must empty their minds of preconceived notions.<\/p>\n

6.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 No one can believe unless s\/he wills to believe. When Jesus walked on the sea and came close to the boat containing the apostles, they were frightened of one who, like God the Creator, could master the sea. He revealed himself to them: he said, \u201cI AM\u201d. They took him into the boat; they accepted him and they arrived at their destination safely.<\/p>\n

We, by our own efforts, cannot accept Christ. We need God\u2019s help. That means that we must pray for that help. Jesus taught us how to pray. In the Lord\u2019s Prayer<\/em> there are seven petitions. \u201cThe first three\u2026 draw us toward the glory of the Father; the last four, as ways toward him, commend our wretchedness to his grace\u201d (CCC.<\/em> 2803).<\/p>\n

The first of our four needs is \u201cGive us this day our daily bread<\/em>\u201d. This is a request for both material and spiritual nourishment. In our human condition we need both. This is how the Catechism of the Catholic Church<\/em> (CCC<\/em>) expresses this: \u201cThis petition, with the responsibility it involves, also applies to [a spiritual] hunger from which men are perishing: \u2018Man does not live by bread alone, but . . . by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God,\u2019 that is, by the Word he speaks and the Spirit he breathes forth. Christians must make every effort \u2018to proclaim the good news to the poor.\u2019 There is a famine on earth, \u2018not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.\u2019 For this reason the specifically Christian sense of this fourth petition concerns the Bread of Life: The Word of God accepted in faith, the Body of Christ received in the Eucharist\u201d (CCC<\/em>, 2835).<\/p>\n

To this point in the sixth chapter of John\u2019s Gospel all comments have been about faith. The Catechism in this quotation endorses this teaching. Faith gives us God\u2019s life, here and now and in the hereafter. God is really present to us by faith.<\/p>\n

Pope Benedict XVI is very strong in stating that there is \u201ca profound crisis of faith that has affected many people\u201d. He has announced a Year of Faith. It will begin on 11 October 2012, the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council, and it will end on the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Universal King, on 24 November 2013. The crisis can be overcome, he says, \u201cthrough the witness offered by the lives of believers: by their very existence in the world, Christians are called to radiate the word of truth that the Lord Jesus has left us\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

JOHN 6: 41\u201351\u00a0\u00a0 BREAD OF LIFE, Part II Ordinary Time, Sunday 19B A\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 TEXT Jews\u2019 Objection 41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, \u201cI AM the bread which came down from heaven.\u201d 42 They said, \u201cIs not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How does he<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2761,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[45],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5090","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-commentary"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5090","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5090"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5090\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5091,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5090\/revisions\/5091"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2761"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5090"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5090"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.stmarys-tallaght.ie\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5090"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}