HOMILY ON THE EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME OF YEAR B
Exodus 16:2-4. 12-15, Ephesians 4:17. 20-24, John 6:24-35
THEME: LOOK FOR JESUS FOR THE RIGHT REASONS
After the miracle of the loaves which we read about last Sunday, the crowd came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him “Rabbi”, when did you come here? Jesus answered them “very truly I tell you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves”. Jesus knew they were looking for their fill, nothing more than that. He knew that they had selfish motives.
Today, we heard the story of how the people flocked to Jesus. That’s the good news. They wanted to be with Jesus. That’s good, but what is not so good is why they wanted to be with Jesus. Just as the crowd in today’s gospel followed Jesus primarily for a selfish reason, often people today follow Jesus for selfish reasons. If our faith is based on miracles, it will simply collapse when the miracles are not forthcoming. Those whose faith is so conditional and deficient easily look for an alternative when they are in need. They perch from one religion to another and from one soothsayer to another. Our focus as Christians should be on how to love and serve the Lord with our hearts. Thus there is need to purify your intention instead of practicing a utilitarian faith.
Moreso, Jesus advised his interlocutors to believe in the one that God has sent, unfortunately, they were on different wavelengths; they remained on the level of desire for material nourishment, by demanding sign from Him. Jesus finally reminded them that he is the bread of life. “He who comes to me will never be hungry, he who believes in me will never thirst”
However, in the first reading, the whole community of the sons of Israel began to complain against Moses and Aaron because of the difficulties and challenges they encountered in the wilderness. They forgot how God helped them to regain their freedom. Like the Israelites, we easily notice the difficulties we encounter and lament, but we ignore the many good things that happen in our life. As long as we are in our material and limited world, which was polluted by the sin of our first parents, we cannot totally avoid disappointments. This message warns us to be careful at our moments of trials, because that is when the devil presents alternatives to seduce us and he uses our weakness to lure us.
Despite the stubbornness of the Israelites, God came to their assistance once again and promised to rain down bread for them from heaven. God still loves you.
Meanwhile, in the second reading, we see an example of the effects of the bread of life on those who receive it. Paul advises the Ephesians not to go on living the aimless kind of life that pagans live. Nourished by the bread of life, their life has to change. We were baptized as followers of Christ and we receive the bread of life every day or at least every Sunday. It has to produce some positive and fruitful changes in our lives because we cannot encounter Christ and remain the same.
The time Paul was writing, the faith of the young Christian community in Ephesus was not yet profound. Like the Israelites in the desert who missed their food and drink in Egypt, the Ephesians recalled the unrestrained life style they led as pagans and felt that they were freer to do whatever they wanted. They were also tempted to return to their “old self” for this reason, Paul tells them that they must give up their old way of life, set aside their old self, which is corrupted by following illusory desires. He teaches us therefore to live in accordance with what we profess. The ‘old self’ refers to Adam and to those who act like him. The life of the “new man” is enlightened by Christ while the “old man” remains in darkness.
Lastly, let us follow Christ for what he has promised. Follow Him because for who He is. He is the bread of life. And that is what true faith is.
May the Lord bless His words in our hearts through Christ our Lord. Amen
By: Fr. Emmanuel Odoh SMMM
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