21B, SUNDAY HOMILY, JOHN 6:60-69, AUGUST 25, 2024
1. STORY
There was a widow
who could not read or write. She brought
up her only son who went to the USA to study and then worked there. She complained to her neighbor that her son
did not care for her and did not help her. The neighbor noticed that the widow received a
weekly letter from her son and asked her what the letters contained. The widow responded that the letters contained
some colored papers of men. Thinking
they were useless, she pasted them on the wall to cover over the cracks. The neighbor asked to see them. To her great surprise, she informed the widow
that she had pasted US100 bills her son had sent on the walls of her house. She had a very filial son, but she did not
know this. She had a great treasure
which she did not appreciate. Many
people are like the widow. They have
Jesus and the Eucharist but do not appreciate him or his precious gift.
2. GOSPEL, JOHN
6:60-69
A. SOME OF YOU DO
NOT BELIEVE
i) Jesus taught
the people that his body and his blood were the bread of life which would give
them eternal life.
ii) Many of the people did not accept this teaching and left him, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?”
B. WE HAVE COME
TO BELIEVE
i) Jesus asked
the twelve apostles if they wanted to leave him. “Do you also want to leave?”
ii. They believed
in Jesus and followed him. “You have the
words of eternal life. We have come to
believe.”
3. APPLICATION TO
LIFE
A. THOSE WHO DO
NOT BELIEVE
Here are three
reasons why people do not believe.
i) To believe is
a gift from God. Jesus tells us, “No one
can come to me unless it is granted him by my father.” Faith is a gift.
ii) Some people
in need ask Jesus for help but do not receive help. They conclude that either he is not interested
in helping them or is not able to do so. They leave Jesus.
iii) Some people become too busy or are far more interested in money, pleasure, or power that they have no time for Jesus. They forget about Jesus.
B. THOSE WHO
BELIEVE IN JESUS
We who are
blessed with faith in Jesus and the Eucharist may do the following.
i) BE THANKFUL
Each day we
should thank Jesus for the wonderful gifts of faith and the Eucharist. We have done nothing to deserve such precious
gifts.
ii) BE WELCOMING
Receive the
Eucharist at each Mass we attend. Welcome
Jesus into our hearts as we would welcome the Pope or our Bishop into our
homes.
iii) BE HIS
DISCIPLES
Jesus gives us
the bread of life so that we have the strength to follow his example. Be kind, be helpful, and be encouraging
towards others. Share the good news that
Jesus loves them.
4. CONCLUSION
The widow was not
aware of her son’s love and help. Many
people are like the widow. They are not
aware of the love of Jesus or the precious gift of the Eucharist. Some of those who followed Jesus did not
accept the gift of the Eucharist and so left him. The twelve apostles believed and followed
Jesus. We who believe in Jesus must be
thankful, welcoming, and faithful disciples. We thank Jesus for his love and his gifts. We ask him to strengthen our faith.
