Word to the Wise
Sunday, August 23, 2015 - 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time - B
[Josh 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b; Eph 5:21-32 or 5:2a, 25-32; John 6:60-69]Jesus then said to the Twelve, "Do you also want to leave?" Simon Peter answered him, "Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Wehave come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God." [John]
The month-long journey through the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John comes to an end today with the profession of faith which Peter makes on behalf of The Twelve. It is a profession of faith that follows the departure of "many of his disciples" because of the teaching on the Bread of Life (which we Catholics would later call "the Eucharist"). It does come down to whether or not one believes that Jesus is "the Holy One of God." If he is, then however he chooses to transform bread and wine into himself is in his power to do so. We believe that it is the work of the Holy Spirit which the Father and Jesus gives to the church which makes this transformation. The priest and congregation invoke the Holy Spirit just before the words of consecration. It is important to understand that the congregation is not a passive element, even if the action of the priest is essential.
It is for this reason that our "Amen" is so important when we receive the Body and Blood of the Lord. We make our own profession of faith in what has taken place a few minutes earlier. We don't answer the words, "The Body of Christ" or "The Blood of Christ" with some kind of "whatever" words. We say "Amen" ("So be it!") It is like Joshua in today's first scripture. We place our trust in the Lord and serve God. The Eucharist is the most important expression of our faith. Do we stand with the Twelve or return to some "former way of life?" AMEN