Commentary and Reflections Sunday Readings Commentary and Reflections 18 th Sunday in Ordinary Time B August 2, 2015 In preparation for this Sunday’s Liturgy As aid in focusing our homilies and sharing Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

1 st reading: Exodus 16, The whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The Israelites said to them, "Would that we had died at the LORD'S hand in the land of Egypt, as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread! But you had to lead us into this desert to make the whole community die of famine!“ 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "I will now rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily portion; thus will I test them, to see whether they follow my instructions or not. 12 "I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them: In the evening twilight you shall eat flesh, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread, so that you may know that I, the LORD, am your God.“ 13 In the evening quail came up and covered the camp. In the morning a dew lay all about the camp. 14 and when the dew evaporated, there on the surface of the desert were fine flakes like hoarfrost on the ground. 15 On seeing it, the Israelites asked one another, "What is this?" for they did not know what it was. But Moses told them, "This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.” The focus is on the bread from heaven.

1 st reading: Exodus 16, Complaints 2 The whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The Israelites said to them, "Would that we had died at the LORD'S hand in the land of Egypt, as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread! But you had to lead us into this desert to make the whole community die of famine!“ God’s promise 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "I will now rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily portion; thus will I test them, to see whether they follow my instructions or not. 12 "I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them: In the evening twilight you shall eat flesh, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread, so that you may know that I, the LORD, am your God.“ 13 In the evening quail came up and covered the camp. In the morning a dew lay all about the camp. 14 and when the dew evaporated, there on the surface of the desert were fine flakes like hoarfrost on the ground. People’s reaction 15 On seeing it, the Israelites asked one another, "What is this?" for they did not know what it was. But Moses told them, "This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.” A simple outline!

Textual Context of Exodus 16, Part I 1,1—15,21The Exodus from Egypt Part II 15,22—18,27 Israel in the Desert Part III 19,1—24,11 The Making of the Covenant Part IV 24,12—31,18 Instructions for the Building of the Sanctuary Part V32,1—34,35Israel’s Apostasy and the Renewal of the Covenant Part VI35,1—40,38The Execution of the Instructions for the Building of the Sanctuary Our text belongs to Part II of the Book of Exodus, which is also entitled as Wilderness Wandering Traditions. It comes after the story of the Water of Marah (15,22-27). It is found in section 16,1-36 on the Manna and Quails. It is followed by the story of Water at Massah and Meribah (17,1-17).

1 st reading: Exodus 16, Complaints 2 The whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The Israelites said to them, "Would that we had died at the LORD'S hand in the land of Egypt, as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread! But you had to lead us into this desert to make the whole community die of famine!“ God’s promises 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "I will now rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily portion; thus will I test them, to see whether they follow my instructions or not. 12 "I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them: In the evening twilight you shall eat flesh, and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread, so that you may know that I, the LORD, am your God.“ Commentary V.2 talks about the complaint of the Israelites, now in the desert. In v.3 the Israelites would have preferred to stay in Egypt rather than in the desert. –There is so much food in Egypt, but in the desert, there is famine. For the people it was a big mistake for Moses and Aaron to lead them out of Egypt. In v.4, God immediately makes a promise to Moses: –To rain down bread from heaven In v.4b and v.12, God gives instructions to Moses for the people to follow. No one should go back to slavery in Egypt.

1 st reading: Exodus 16, In the evening quail came up and covered the camp. In the morning a dew lay all about the camp. 14 and when the dew evaporated, there on the surface of the desert were fine flakes like hoarfrost on the ground. People’s reaction 15 On seeing it, the Israelites asked one another, "What is this?" for they did not know what it was. But Moses told them, "This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.” In vv.13 and 14, God sends quails in the evening and flakes (bread) in the morning. In v.15, the Israelites wonder what kind of food it is. Manna means “what is it?” Moses identifies it as the bread from God.

Reflections on the 1 st reading Complaints abound, when there is lack of food or material resources. We put the blame on our leaders. We forget that the journey from slavery to freedom entails inconveniences, hunger, thirst, and discomfort. To reach the promised land, we must pass through a big empty space, where only God’s power can be invoked for our survival. God, as a liberator God, gives us only what is basic in our journey. Going back or backsliding is ruled out. Are you willing to make sacrifices to gain freedom?

Resp. Ps 78:3-4, 23-24, 25, 54 Ps R. (24b) The Lord gave them bread from heaven. 3 What we have heard and know, and what our fathers have declared to us, 4 We will declare to the generation to come the glorious deeds of the LORD and his strength and the wonders that he wrought. 23 He commanded the skies above and opened the doors of heaven; 24 he rained manna upon them for food and gave them heavenly bread. 25 Man ate the bread of angels, food he sent them in abundance. 54 And he brought them to his holy land, to the mountains his right hand had won.

Resp. Ps 78:3-4, 23-24, 25, 54 Ps R. (24b) The Lord gave them bread from heaven. 3 What we have heard and know, and what our fathers have declared to us, 4 We will declare to the generation to come the glorious deeds of the LORD and his strength and the wonders that he wrought. 23 He commanded the skies above and opened the doors of heaven; 24 he rained manna upon them for food and gave them heavenly bread. Commentary The psalm is classified as historical psalm. It recalls how God gave food to his people in the desert. V.3 refers to the Israelites’ oral traditions. In v.4, the psalmist promises to communicate also to the next generation what he has received from the previous generations. He will transmit to them the glorious deeds of God (in Exodus). Vv.23 and 24 recall the imagery of Noah’s flood, but this time the flood gates open to rain down food.

25 Man ate the bread of angels, food he sent them in abundance. 54 And he brought them to his holy land, to the mountains his right hand had won. V.25 recalls the desert experience, when the Israelites ate manna. The Psalmist adds “in abundance.” V.54 recalls how God brings them to the promised land (holy land). The land that the Israelites occupy is not the coastlands, but the mountainous regions. The psalm is a prayer that recalls God’s dealings with the Israelites in the desert.

Reflections on the Psalm In our prayer, we remember God’s favors to us. It is impossible to pray without remembering anything about God. We remember what strikes us most, usually the extremes… extreme hunger or extreme joy… We celebrate God’s assistance in our journey to freedom.

2 nd reading: Eph 4, I declare and testify in the Lord that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds; 20 That is not how you learned Christ, 21 assuming that you have heard of him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus, 22 that you should put away the old self of your former way of life, corrupted through deceitful desires, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and put on the new self, created in God's way in righteousness and holiness of truth. The focus is on living a new life.

Textual Context of Eph 4, OUTLINE 1. Opening Address (1:1-2) 2. Doctrinal Exposition (1:3-3:21) A. Divine Origin of the Church (1:3-14) B. Prayer for the Church (1:15-23) C. Building Up the Church (2:1-22) D. Mystery of the Church (3:1-13) E. Prayer for the Church (3:14-21) 3. Moral Exhortation (4:1-6:20) A. Unity of the Church (4:1-16) B. Moral Maturity in the Church (4:17-5:20) C. Household Life in the Church (5:21-6:9) D. Spiritual Warfare in the Church (6:10-20) 4. Closing Farewell (6:21-24)

2 nd reading: Eph 4, I declare and testify in the Lord that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds; 20 That is not how you learned Christ, 21 assuming that you have heard of him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus, 22 that you should put away the old self of your former way of life, corrupted through deceitful desires, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and put on the new self, created in God's way in righteousness and holiness of truth. Commentary Textual Context: Our text must be seen against the background of the moral exhortation of Paul(!) to the Church. Historical Context: The Church, the Christians were morally challenged by their Gentile environment in the last quarter of the first century AD. In v.17, the author (Paul!) highly recommends that Christians stop living like the Gentiles. In v.20, Christians are expected to exhibit a different behavior, because they have learned something different from Christ. Vv review what is heard and learned from Christ: –To let go of the old self (former life). –The former life is the sinful life, life of futility and false (worldly) values

2 nd reading: Eph 4, I declare and testify in the Lord that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds; 20 That is not how you learned Christ, 21 assuming that you have heard of him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus, 22 that you should put away the old self of your former way of life, corrupted through deceitful desires, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and put on the new self, created in God's way in righteousness and holiness of truth. V.22 says the old self is the old life, which is corrupted. Deceitful desires are our basic instincts, our unbridled drives and misplaced cravings, our inordinate lust for anything. Vv say the point in a more positive way: –Be renewed in the spirit –Put on the new self

Reflections on the 2 nd reading Christian life is putting on a new self and living a renewed life. Christian life is patterned after that of Christ in which there is submission to the will of God. Christian life is not governed by desires and caprices and impulses, and false self. Are you living a new life? Or, are you still sitting in the dark?

Gospel: John 6, When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. 25 And when they found him across the sea they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?“ 26 Jesus answered them and said, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.“ 28 So they said to him, "What can we do to accomplish the works of God?“ 29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.“ 30 So they said to him, "What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do? 31 Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'“ 32 So Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.“ 34 So they said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always.“ 35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst. The focus is on the bread of life.

Gospel: John 6,24-35 Setting 24 When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. Question 25 And when they found him across the sea they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?“ Answer 26 Jesus answered them and said, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.“ Question 28 So they said to him, "What can we do to accomplish the works of God?“ Answer 29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.“

Question 30 So they said to him, "What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do? 31 Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'“ Answer 32 So Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.“ Question 34 So they said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always.“ Answer 35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.

Textual Context of John 6,24-35 Part One – Book of Signs (Jn 2-12) Part Two – Book of Glory (Jn 13-20) Our passage is within the Discourse of the Bread of Life. It comes after Jesus walks on Water. The discourse on the Bread of Life comes later (6,35-50). The gospel was written in between AD for the Johannine community.

Gospel: John 6,24-35 Setting 24 When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. Question 25 And when they found him across the sea they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?“ Answer 26 Jesus answered them and said, "Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. 27 Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.“ Commentary The people question, Jesus answers. In v.24, the crowds look for Jesus in Capernaum. Capernaum is a fishing village, the town of Peter. In v.25, the people ask a superficial question. In vv.26-27, Jesus answers. First, he reads their motive. –They are after the material food and they want to repeat their experience of being satisfied. In v.27, Jesus exhorts the people to seek spiritual food.

Gospel: John 6,24-35 Question 28 So they said to him, "What can we do to accomplish the works of God?“ Answer 29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.“ In v.28, the people ask Jesus how to please God. Jesus’ answer: believe in Jesus, the one God sent. V.29

Question 30 So they said to him, "What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you? What can you do? 31 Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written: 'He gave them bread from heaven to eat.'“ Answer 32 So Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.“ In v.30, the people ask for a sign (miracle) so that they may believe. In v.31, the people require from Jesus something like manna in the desert. In v.32, Jesus clarifies that the manna comes from Jesus’ Father, not from Moses. V.33 gives further information on the bread from heaven. –It is the bread of God. –It gives life to the world.

Question 34 So they said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always.“ Answer 35 Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst. In v.34, the people demand for this bread, that Jesus will always give them this bread. In v.35, Jesus identifies himself as the bread of life. He who receives him will never hunger and thirst.

Reflections on the gospel reading We should know what to ask from Jesus. Too bad that faith in him has been trivialized. We ask from Jesus unnecessary things (perishable goods). We should ask for light, wisdom, patience, etc., to get closer to him. Why should we not ask for ourselves and for our loved ones the spiritual food? Meaning, we, as a family or community, strive to receive holy communion every Sunday worthily.

Tying the three readings and the Psalm The first reading talks about the manna in the desert. The psalm helps us recall how God has been good to his people in the desert. The second reading highly exhorts us to put on a new life in Christ. The gospel reading talks about the bread of life.

How to develop your homily/sharing While we fight for a just distribution of goods so that all of us humans may have our share, we must admit that deep within us, we hunger for meaning. In addressing the Christians and those who belong to other faiths, the late Pope John Paul II, when he was in India, categorically stated that only in Jesus can we find meaning and fulfillment in life. We have to realize that each individual longs for deep communion, where there is respect, serenity, security and joy.

The readings tell us some lessons on how to be fulfilled in life. The first reading tells us that God is the source of our survival and satisfaction. In our hunger and poverty, it is God who ultimately intervenes in our lives, when we are in dire need. Therefore, we must approach him in prayer.

The psalmist acknowledges all the good things God has done for his people, including those who journeyed in the desert. The psalmist uses the imagery of Noah’s flood to describe how God has given to his people the food they need. It comes like a flood from a flood gate. So they are flooded with food, not just little food.

The second reading exhorts all Christians to live on a higher level. We are not supposed to be listening to our caprices and whims. As Christians, we should not be governed by our instincts and emotions. Instead, we should put on a new self that conforms to the teachings of Christ. The new self resists against temptations to seek inordinate pleasure at the expense of decency and justice.

In the gospel reading, Jesus is emphatic on seeking the food that is imperishable, meaning, spiritual food. We should not waste time and money seeking the food that satisfies only our taste buds and fills our already bloated stomachs. God has given us enough material food. Now we must recognize that there is another food, the one that gives us eternal life. Catholic teaching tells us that this is none other than the Eucharist.

At present, more and more Catholics understand the meaning of the Eucharist. They are trained how to receive communion properly. They are going to church regularly. But, at the same time, we have to accept that plenty of baptized Christians are un- churched. There is no way they can receive holy communion. Others are so busy with their work that they have no more time to go to church.

The Eucharist reminds us that there is much more to life than competing for material food. The Eucharist is the bread from heaven. For the firm believer, the Eucharist is the food that satisfies the spirit. In the Eucharist, Jesus assures of eternal life.

Our Context of Sin and Grace Materialism Always eating and drinking Just sensual Always looking for a new eatery Consumerism False sense of meaning and happiness Transformed Sacramental life Lives in moderation Food production Spiritual values, higher values Christ-centered

Suggested songs Biyayang Mula sa Yo – New Life Look Beyond The Bread of Life