Readings: Proverbs 9:1-6, Ps. 34:2-3,10-15, Ephesians 5:15-20, John 6:51-58
“Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day.” (John 6:53-54)
While our first reading is addressed “to him who is without sense,” our second reading says: “Therefore do not be foolish.” Who is the fool referred to in these readings? What are the things we do or fail to do that make us fools, and how can we avoid such foolishness? The answers to these questions are contained in our readings, and they include:
1. Foolishness is flowing with Ungodly Trends in Society
St. Paul admonishes in our second reading: “Watch carefully how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16. If, at the time of St. Paul, he could say the days are evil, what would he say about our generation today? A world that so worships money that people are ready to do anything just for money; a world that redefines sinfulness as prosperity; a world where religion itself has become a commercial commodity; a world that treats people with dignity only based on their popularity on social media, how beautiful they look or how much money they have. Unless we stand out of the evils of our day, we are part of the foolishness St. Paul warns us against.
2. Ignorance of Scripture is Foolishness
Our first reading discusses “wisdom” as a person who built a house, set everything in place, and is now inviting people to come and eat freely. Who is this wisdom, and how can we locate her house? St. Paul says, “Do not be foolish, but understand God’s will.” In other words, the home of wisdom is understanding the will of God, and since the Bible contains this will (testament), it follows that we are most foolish if we never take the time to read the Bible. To say you have no time to read the Bible is to say you do not consider the Bible worthy of your allotted share of 24 hours daily.
3. Living Only for the Flesh is Foolishness
Another point in St. Paul’s admonition is: “Do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.” St. Paul is not simply referring to alcohol; he addresses a much deeper problem: caring for our physical bodies at the expense of our souls. According to another priest’s sermon for this Sunday, “… our contemporary culture has become so much concerned with the care of the human body. It is so amazing how fast-growing the body care and cosmetics industries are. I see them on signboards: teeth-whitening, tanning, anti-ageing treatment… and so on.” We now hear of artificial human hair and body parts, to name a few. As Jesus would say: “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his life? For what can a man give in return for his life?” (Mark 8:36-37).
4. Staying away from Holy Communion is Foolishness
When Jesus talks about gaining the whole world and forfeiting our life, He is not only referring to our physical death; He is talking about forfeiting the true essence of our life, which is union with God. Hence, in today’s Gospel passage, we hear Jesus say: “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.” (John 6:53-57).
Dear friends, we become like plants uprooted from the ground whenever we stay away from Holy Communion, the Body and Blood of Christ. We may appear alive but begin to die if we are not replanted. Even though the crowds were disputing among themselves, Jesus wasn’t willing to shift ground. He hit them with the truth: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood, you have no life in you” (John 5:53).
Now, Holy Communion is like a double-edged sword. If we don’t take it, we die; if we take it in a state of sin, we die an even greater death. As St. Paul says: “Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of profaning the body and blood of the Lord… anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment upon himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.” (1 Corinthians 11:27-30).
As much as we cannot take Holy Communion in a state of sin, we need Holy Communion to strengthen us against the lure of sin. These are some sayings of the saints about Holy Communion: “Holy Communion delivers us from daily faults and preserves us from mortal ones.” (St. Alphonsus De Liguori). “Communion represses the movements of anger and incontinence, the two passions that most frequently and violently assail us.” (St. Bernard). “Communion defeats the devil’s suggestions.” (St. Thomas). “Communion pours into our souls a great inclination to virtue and a promptitude to practice it and, at the same time, imparts to us a great peace, by which the path of perfection is made very sweet and easy.” (St. John Chrysostom)
Don’t be foolish and cheat yourself by staying away from Holy Communion. Let your desire to receive Holy Communion daily become your greatest motivation to live above sin, avoid temptations, have a pure heart, and study the Bible. The more Communion you receive, the stronger you become spiritually, and the fewer temptations overpower you.
Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, free us from all foolishness, especially that of staying away from your Body and Blood. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.
*Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (20th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Proverbs 9:1-6, Ps. 34:2-3,10-15, Ephesians 5:15-20, John 6:51-58).*
@Rev. Fr. Evaristus E. Abu