Gospel for August 18 2024 – John 6:51-58
Gospel Reflections for August 18 2024
Things that last…
There are so many world changing events happening right now that it is hard to imagine anything that lasts.
Yet Jesus says: I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever…
In an age when food supplies often ran out and famine was frequent, it must have sounded unreal. Can anything last forever?
I remember years ago in another parish, our Youth Group invited all the priests to play in a softball game. It seemed like the whole parish showed up to watch! The elderly pastor was also invited to play and he courageously stepped up to the plate to face the pitcher. All eyes were on him. He swung at the first pitch, and to his amazement, connected with a solid hit, and the ball sailed far into the outfield. The crowd erupted in cheers!
However, instead of running to first base, he remained at home plate and just stood there in amazement just looking at that ball sail into the air. He could not believe after all these years he could still hit the ball!
I never forgot the impact on that pastor of things that last and do not fade away. I think the Gospel today makes that same point.
What Jesus started 2000 years ago still remains with you today, unchanged in its power and grace to transform your life …with the courage and confidence you need to face the world.
What has not changed is the invitation to follow what Jesus said and did at the Last Supper. It remains the unchanging secret to a happy life today as it was 2000 years ago, and really from the beginning of time.
Jesus invites you to take your entire self, your body and blood, all that you are, and offer it for the lasting happiness of another.
The action of the Eucharist connects you with what it means to be a human being, and what was also scientifically most likely the engine of our evolutionary success. From the very beginning of our human history, this action of committing our lives in love for one another enabled our human species to not only last but to prosper with amazing evolutionary success.
Every Mass reconnects us to our true human nature, just as God designed, and that has wonderfully lasted to this day.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Loved your Baseball story this week. Having just celebrated 88 years since entering Earth you made me Grin. There is so much I can still do it amazes me. Going to Mass used to be a chore but now is sheer pleasure. Receiving Communion is the highlight of the day.
I believe firmly in the statutes and decrees of thr Faith I Practice.
I find it interesting to associate with people of different cultures and races and would find life boring not doing so. Jeasus came to establish the idea of Loving others including our enemies. Should you do that , very soon you will not have any enemies.
You are just the right person to venture out among people of different cultures and races and bring the love of Our Lord to them!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee your precious words!!! Dick and i are Blessed to go to the 12:00P.M. Mass at Saint Judes every day!!!We soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo loveeeeeeee it for receiving our precious Jesus embraces our day in loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! We try to share our precious Jesus’ love in word and little deeds!!! Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee our precious Jesus, love our precious Faith and loveeeeeeeeeeeeeee precious you our father Dave for giving us the precious gift of Jesus!!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee, Franca and Dick
Thank you!
Dear Father Dave,
Yes, the eternal truth of Jesus and His Unending love lifts us into the purity of beauty..
Great baseball story!!!!!!
Thank you for your tireless dedication to spreading God’s love. May He continue to bless you.
Kathleen
Thank you!