SUNDAY HOMILY OF THE 20TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME — YEAR B
HOMILY THEME: HOW COULD THAT BE? THE JEWS ARGUED
BY: Fr Justus Oruh
Proverbs 9: 1-6, Ps. 34, Ephesians 5: 15-20, John 6: 51-58
(a) Since about 2 or 3 Sundays now, the reading about Christ, the bread which came down from heaven, that is about the Holy Communion (the Holy Eucharist) has been appearing. It will till continue in the coming Sunday. This tells us how sacred and important the Holy Eucharist is in our life as Christians. The Church describes it as the source and summit of the Christian Life. It is as described in Provo 9,- the Pillars holding our House of Faith. In the long conversations for about 4 weeks, Christ tries to make clear, the spiritual communion established through the eating of His Body and drinking of His Blood. The Jews quarrelled Him, “how could that be”?
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This quarrel and doubt about the Holy Communion has continued till date. The Consecration is the high point of the Holy Mass. Through the ministry of the Priest at Mass and, while holding the bread, Christ says, “this is my body” and wine, “this is my blood”. He who eats will have eternal life. The question, quarrel and doubt among some people on the issue still come with the same question, “how could that be”? ‘ In the coming days we will see far the doubt and quarrel could go and how Christ refused to shift ground owing to it’s essence.
(c) The words of Christ tells us that the Eucharist is not a symbol and not a sign simply depicting the the presence of Christ among us BUT is Christ Himself among us. Christ is not in the Bread and wine of the Eucharist but IS THE EUCHARIST. The question continues, “how could this be”? Here however we understand the linking and connecting function of the verb “to be”, the conjugated “is” as used by Christ during the conversation. This “IS” my body! The Eucharist bread IS Christ, – body, blood, soul and divinity of Christ. This connecting function is the Communion that links us with Christ.. whoever eats this bread, and drinks my blood, “I will remain in him and he in me” which is the fulfilment of our life, namely: to be in communion with God.
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