20th Sunday B
THIS FOOD MEANS LOVE
After the heavy rains last week,
our maintenance boy found a hapless but very colorful fledgling, a young bird,
separated from its mother. Concerned that it must be so hungry but not knowing
what species it was, they set out to lure it with seeds, fruits, grains and
finally, fish. It turned out to be
a kingfisher!
If we show compassion on animals
by being solicitous for their nourishment, all the more so do we pamper fellow
human beings with food. Filipinos show love through food, thus the constant
greeting: Kumain ka na? (Have you
eaten?). We remind women that the
quickest way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. And we simply love to entertain our friends with food and
drink. In last week’s episode of
massive flooding, people came to the rescue of the victims by sending
provisions of food and water.
The readings today show how
lavishly the Lord sets his table for his beloved people. The description in Proverbs shows Lady Wisdom
carefully preparing a banquet for guests.
Our responsorial psalm invites us to “taste and see the goodness of the
Lord.” In the gospel, we return to
the theme of food, this time Jesus being more specific: whoever eats my flesh and drinks my
blood has eternal life and I will raise him on the last day.”
It is amazing to realize that the
Lord is really concerned about our nourishment. Jesus is willing to give himself totally so that we may
live. It was not enough that he
gave up his body to physically be sacrificed on the cross for our
salvation. In the period after his
return to the Father, Jesus will continue to provide the food that will sustain
us in our daily journey of life.
This clearly happens in the
Eucharist. This sacrament is not
just a ritual but a liturgy, a real celebration of joy and thanksgiving! Jesus
is with us every time we gather in his name. Here, we eat his flesh, not
physical but mystical, in the form of the consecrated bread. Here, we drink his blood, again,
sacramentally, through the form of the wine we offer.
How can a small piece of bread
remove hunger? How can a few drops
of blood quench thirst? How can
this bread and wine make us “remain with the Lord” and he in us? We must return
to Jesus’ essential message. His
body and blood are not to be considered earthly food, temporary relief. Yes, Jesus is concerned about our physical
welfare, but more importantly, our spiritual welfare.
Hunger is not only for material and
perishable things. Thirst is not
only about physical want. We
hunger and thirst for love, forgiveness, acceptance, peace and
reconciliation. We hunger for
realities the world itself cannot fully provide. We long for eternal life, a life that begins here and now,
as we live in closeness with the Lord.
The Eucharist answers this deep hunger in our heart and soul.
What a great sacrament we have in
the Eucharist. This is indeed the
real food because it is an act of the greatest love of God for us who he wants
to lead to fullness of life. What response can we give but gratitude as we
receive It.
