26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2024

Posted by Christy .. on 9/30/24

My Dear People,

In this week’s Reading, the Lord spoke to Moses and bestowed the spirit on the  seventy elders (picked by Moses), and they began to prophesy. However, two men, Eldad and Medad were not at the gathering but were left in the camp, and the spirit came ... Read More »

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2024

Posted by Christy .. on 9/16/24

My Dear People of God,  

When we read from the Book of Wisdom and the Gospel of Mark, both indicate that if we want to follow God we will have to suffer just as Jesus mentioned He would  have to suffer. In Wisdom it is stated, the wicked say, ... Read More »

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2024

Posted by Christy .. on 9/09/24

My Dear People, 

When Jesus asks his disciples, who do you say that I am?, this is a pivotal question which answers why Jesus came to Earth. Jesus’ name in Hebrew, “Yashua,” means “God saves.” This means Jesus came to Earth to save us from our sins. How is ... Read More »

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2024

Posted by Christy .. on 9/09/24

My Dear People, 

Once again the Gospel passage uses the Greek word for “murmuring” which is used in the Septuagint and in Exodus and Numbers when the Israelites complained  (“murmured”)  to Moses in the wilderness. 

Jesus responds to the shocked reaction of His disciples by saying:  “It is the ... Read More »

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2024

Posted by Christy .. on 9/09/24

My Dear People,

Having completed five weeks of study on the Eucharist Discourse of John 6, we return this Sunday to the Readings of the Gospel from Mark. Our passage is a highly edited excerpt from Jesus’s debate with the Pharisees over the customs of the elders. Clearly, Jesus ... Read More »

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time 2024

Posted by Christy .. on 8/19/24

My Dear People, 

Once again the Gospel passage uses the Greek word for “murmuring” which is used in the Septuagint and in Exodus and Numbers when the Israelites complained  (“murmured”)  to Moses in the wilderness. 

Jesus responds to the shocked reaction of His disciples by saying:  “It is the ... Read More »

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Posted by Christy .. on 8/12/24

My Dear People, 

In this passage, Jesus moves from talking about Himself in a general way as the “Bread of Life” to suggesting specific applications of the gift of Himself in the Eucharist. The language becomes increasingly serious and specific. In verse 53, Jesus introduces the idea of “drinking ... Read More »

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2024

Posted by Christy .. on 8/05/24

My Dear People,

Some of Jesus’ listeners objected to His claim to be the bread from heaven because they knew His earthly family (6:41-41). Alluding to the book of Exodus, Jesus treats their response as rebellious grumbling (6:43). The Father works within people by teaching them and drawing them ... Read More »

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2024

Posted by Christy .. on 7/29/24

My Dear People, 

There are so many parallels between Jesus’s interaction with the crowd and God’s dealing with the Israelites in the desert. The Israelites in the desert were thinking with their stomachs. So, too, is the crowd in John 6.  “You are looking for me. . . because ... Read More »

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time, 2024

Posted by Christy .. on 7/29/24

My Dear People,

The next five weeks, we will read the six chapters of John which deal with the famous discourse of the bread of life. These are the chapters which clearly emphasize the importance of the Eucharist and the doctrine of the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist. 

Today we have the very memorable passage of John where Jesus fed the five thousand people from five barley loaves and two fish. This miracle is the foreshadowing of the Eucharist. As Jesus said, as the heavenly Father gave manna in the desert, I will give you living bread. As Jesus took care of the physical needs of the people in the desert, how much more will Jesus take care of our spiritual needs? For this reason, Jesus speaks about the living bread, which is found in the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John. There is the main teaching of Jesus in regard to the Eucharist. Jesus took the barley loaves and the fish, gave thanks, and distributed them. The Eucharistic reference here is obvious. These are the same words which are used during the consecration. The one verb that is not contained here is broke.  This happened at the Last Supper to indicate that Jesus was going to be broken and sacrificed for us. This connects with Jesus taking flesh and with Jesus taking the loaf of bread at the Last Supper. Jesus took flesh to be broken for us. Bread is useless unless it is broken so that we can eat it. The next words are gave thanks. Jesus is thankful that his mission is accomplished. The word Eucharist is a Greek word which means to give thanks. When we come to church we come to give thanks. The next word is distributed. Jesus distributed the 5 loaves of bread so that everyone had enough to eat. Jesus distributes, that is, he gives himself to us so that we have enough to eat. It means we have enough to bring us salvation and spiritual health. Jesus is willing to give himself up for ... Read More »