1. Welcome to our Bible Study
19th Sunday in the Ordinary Time B
August 9, 2009
In preparation for this Sunday’s liturgy
In aid of focusing our homilies and sharing
Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

2. 1st reading: 1 Kings 19,4-8
4 Elijah went a day's journey into the desert, until he came to a broom tree and sat beneath it. He prayed for death: "This is enough, O LORD! Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers." 5 He lay down and fell asleep under the broom tree, but then an angel touched him and ordered him to get up and eat. 6 He looked and there at his head was a hearth cake and a jug of water. After he ate and drank, he lay down again, 7 but the angel of the LORD came back a second time, touched him, and ordered, "Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you!" 8 He got up, ate and drank; then strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights to the mountain of God, Horeb.

3. The focus is on eating, in order to reach destination.
1st reading: 1 Kings 19,4-8
4 Elijah went a day's journey into the desert, until he came to a broom tree and sat beneath it. He prayed for death: "This is enough, O LORD! Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers." 5 He lay down and fell asleep under the broom tree, but then an angel touched him and ordered him to get up and eat. 6 He looked and there at his head was a hearth cake and a jug of water. After he ate and drank, he lay down again, 7 but the angel of the LORD came back a second time, touched him, and ordered, "Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you!" 8 He got up, ate and drank; then strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights to the mountain of God, Horeb.
The focus is on eating, in order to reach destination.

4. The underlined words back up the theme of eating.
1st reading: 1 Kings 19,4-8
4 Elijah went a day's journey into the desert, until he came to a broom tree and sat beneath it. He prayed for death: "This is enough, O LORD! Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers." 5 He lay down and fell asleep under the broom tree, but then an angel touched him and ordered him to get up and eat. 6 He looked and there at his head was a hearth cake and a jug of water. After he ate and drank, he lay down again, 7 but the angel of the LORD came back a second time, touched him, and ordered, "Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you!" 8 He got up, ate and drank; then strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights to the mountain of God, Horeb.
The underlined words back up the theme of eating.

5. 1st reading: 1 Kings 19,4-8 Elijah runs for his life and wants to die.
Just a simple outline!
1st reading: 1 Kings 19,4-8
Elijah runs for his life and wants to die.
4 Elijah went a day's journey into the desert, until he came to a broom tree and sat beneath it. He prayed for death: "This is enough, O LORD! Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers." 5 He lay down and fell asleep under the broom tree,
An angel comes and makes him eat (so that he won’t die)
but then an angel touched him and ordered him to get up and eat. 6 He looked and there at his head was a hearth cake and a jug of water.
Elijah repeats lying down (hoping to die)
After he ate and drank, he lay down again,
The angel insists that he eat for the long journey.
7 but the angel of the LORD came back a second time, touched him, and ordered, "Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you!"
Elijah obeys.
8 He got up, ate and drank; then strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights to the mountain of God, Horeb.

6. 1st reading: 1 Kings 19,4-8 Commentary:
Elijah runs for his life (and wants to die.
4 Elijah went a day's journey into the desert, until he came to a broom tree and sat beneath it.
He prayed for death: "This is enough, O LORD! Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers."
5 He lay down and fell asleep under the broom tree, (a shrub)
An angel comes and makes him eat (so that he won’t die)
but then an angel touched him and ordered him to get up and eat. 6 He looked and there at his head was a hearth cake and a jug of water.
Elijah repeats lying down (hoping to die)
After he ate and drank, he lay down again,
The angel insists that he eat more for the long journey.
7 but the angel of the LORD came back a second time, touched him, and ordered, "Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you!"
Elijah obeys. Things happen as planned.
8 He got up, ate and drank; then strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights to the mountain of God, Horeb.
Commentary:
Elijah is running for his life because Jezebel, the pagan queen of Israel, seeks to kill him, because he killed her prophets (prophets of Baal).
In desperation, Elijah prays for his death. V.4
In v.5, Elijah sleeps (hoping to sleep to death) but an angel wakes him up and feeds him (God’s intervention) with two imperatives: get up and eat.
In v. 6, he finds bread and water. But after he eats and drinks, he again lies down (to die).
In v.7, the angel comes back, touches him and commands for the second time: get up and eat.
The angel gives a reason: his journey is long.
In v.8, Elijah eats and drinks, he regains his strength, is able to reach his destination.

7. Reflection on the 1st reading
When we experience success, amidst euphoria, we may also feel depressed.
Not everyone is happy for us, because of envy, or, we might have stepped on someone else’s shoe. We tend to give up.
In our depression (wanting to die), God comes to intervene in our lives.
We must cooperate with him.
God provides for our survival. God sees we still have a long way to go.
God does not give up on us.

8. Responsorial Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
2 I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. 3 Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad.
4 Glorify the LORD with me, Let us together extol his name. 4 I sought the LORD, and he answered me And delivered me from all my fears.
6 Look to him that you may be radiant with joy. And your faces may not blush with shame. 7 When the afflicted man called out, the LORD heard, And from all his distress he saved him.
8 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him and delivers them. 9 Taste and see how good the LORD is; blessed the man who takes refuge in him.

9. Responsorial Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 Commentary:
R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
2 I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. 3 Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad.
4 Glorify the LORD with me, Let us together extol his name. 5 I sought the LORD, and he answered me And delivered me from all my fears.
6 Look to him that you may be radiant with joy. And your faces may not blush with shame. 7 When the afflicted man called out, the LORD heard, And from all his distress he saved him.
8 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him and delivers them. 9 Taste and see how good the LORD is; blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
Commentary:
The response is an invitation to take delight in the Lord.
The psalmist must have a good experience with the Lord. V.2
He promises to bless and praise God always. V.3a
His praises will cause joy to the lowly (poor) who will hear him. V.3b
In v.4, the psalmist invites others to praise God with him.
In v.5, the psalmist gives the reason why.
The Lord has listened to his prayers, to keep him out of fear.

10. Responsorial Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
2 I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. 3 Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad.
4 Glorify the LORD with me, Let us together extol his name. 5 I sought the LORD, and he answered me And delivered me from all my fears.
6 Look to him that you may be radiant with joy. And your faces may not blush with shame. 7 When the afflicted man called out, the LORD heard, And from all his distress he saved him.
8 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him and delivers them. 9 Taste and see how good the LORD is; blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
In v.6, the psalmist exhorts us to turn to God. We will be happy.
V.7 states God’s saving power for the afflicted.
Here we remember Elijah’s experience in the first reading.
V.8 gives another reason why we should turn to God.
The angel of the Lord stays to protect those who fear him.
V.9 is the responsorial psalm.
V.9b commends people who take refuge in the Lord.

11. Reflections on the Psalm
Who do we approach when we are in trouble?
Happy are we if we run to God every time we are in crisis.
We will not be sorry.
Unhappy is the man who does not know whom to cling to.
Clinging to God is concretized in prayer and in listening to his words.

12. 2nd Reading: Ephesians 4,30—5,2
30 Do not grieve the holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice. 32 (And) be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. 5:1 So be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.

13. 2nd Reading: Ephesians 4,30—5,2
30 Do not grieve the holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice. 32 (And) be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. 5:1 So be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.
The focus is Christian living.

14. 2nd Reading: Ephesians 4,30—5,2
A simple outline!
Relation with the Holy Spirit
30 Do not grieve the holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice.
Relation with one another (pattern: command + reason)
32 (And) be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another (command)
as God has forgiven you in Christ. (reason)
Relation with God (pattern: command + reason)
5:1 So be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and live in love, (command)
as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. (reason)

15. 2nd Reading: Ephesians 4,30—5,2
Commentary:
In v.30, the author (Paul!) exhorts Christians not to sadden the Holy Spirit, because it is the Holy Spirit Who assures us of our redemption.
V.31 enumerates how to avoid grieving the Holy Spirit: Get rid of the following:
Bitterness (rancor, sama ng loob)
Fury (too much anger)
Anger (clouds good judgment)
Shouting (raising one’s voice against another)
Reviling (slandering, talking ill against another)
Malice (bad motivation)
V.32 continues enumerating how to avoid grieving the Holy Spirit in a positive way:
Be kind
Be compassionate
Forgiving one another, for we are forgiven by God
In 5,1, Paul invites us Christians to imitate God (who is forgiving and kind to all of us).
V.2 exhorts us to live in love (devoid of anger, malice, etc.)
We are asked to imitate God this way:
To be like Christ who loves, who willingly gives himself to us as a sacrificial offering.
Relation with the Holy Spirit
30 Do not grieve the holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice.
Relation with one another (pattern: command + reason)
32 (And) be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another (command)
as God has forgiven you in Christ. (reason)
Relation with God (pattern: command + reason)
5:1 So be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and live in love, (command)
as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma. (reason)

16. Reflections on the 2nd reading
Christians are supposed to be pleasers of the Holy Spirit.
We do what He inspires us to do.
We please the Holy Spirit,
when we exercise self-control or we are in control of our emotions.
when we overcome negative feelings which lead us to negative behavior.
when we imitate God, who is forgiving, loving and merciful.

17. Gospel: John 6,41-51
41 The Jews murmured about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven," 42 and they said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" 43 Jesus answered and said to them, "Stop murmuring among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets: 'They shall all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; 50 this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."

18. The focus is Jesus as the bread.
Gospel: John 6,41-51
The focus is Jesus as the bread.
41 The Jews murmured about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven," 42 and they said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" 43 Jesus answered and said to them, "Stop murmuring among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets: 'They shall all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. 47 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; 50 this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."

19. Gospel: John 6,41-51 The Jews to Jesus
41 The Jews murmured (complain, mutter) about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven," 42 and they said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, 'I have come down from heaven'?“
Jesus to the Jews
43 Jesus answered and said to them, "Stop murmuring among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him (To accept Jesus and his claims is a gift from the Father),
and I will raise him on the last day. (salvation)
45 It is written in the prophets: 'They shall all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father.
47 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. (salvation)
48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; 50 this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." (salvation)

20. Gospel: John 6,41-51 Commentary
The Jews to Jesus
41 The Jews murmured (complain, mutter) about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven," 42 and they said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, 'I have come down from heaven'?“
Jesus to the Jews
43 Jesus answered and said to them, "Stop murmuring among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him (To accept Jesus and his claims is a gift from the Father),
and I will raise him on the last day. (salvation)
45 It is written in the prophets: 'They shall all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father.
47 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. (salvation)
48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; 50 this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." (salvation)
Commentary
V.41 Jesus’ claim is totally unacceptable to the Jews. Outrageous claim. Jesus speaks metaphorically, “I am the bread….”, “from heaven…”
In v.42, the Jews downgrade Him by looking at His humble human origins.
In vv Jesus clarifies: The Jews do not accept Him because they are not drawn by the Father.
Those who are drawn and, who believe, are assured of salvation (life after death)
Those who listen to His Father must necessarily go to Jesus. v.45
Maybe the Jews are not listening at all to the Father, that’s why, they can’t accept Him. V.46
Belief (faith) is the response to the claim of Jesus. It has a reward (eternal life). v.47

21. Gospel: John 6,41-51
The Jews to Jesus
41 The Jews murmured (complain, mutter) about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven," 42 and they said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, 'I have come down from heaven'?“
Jesus to the Jews
43 Jesus answered and said to them, "Stop murmuring among yourselves. 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him (To accept Jesus and his claims is a gift from the Father),
and I will raise him on the last day. (salvation)
45 It is written in the prophets: 'They shall all be taught by God.' Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. 46 Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father.
47 Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. (salvation)
48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; 50 this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." (salvation)
In v.48, Jesus categorically and metaphorically says, “I am the bread of life.”
V.49 recalls the manna in the desert, which their ancestors ate.
V.50 reiterates that He is the new bread coming down from heaven.
V.51 describes the bread of life as a ‘living’ bread.
V.51-b assures eternal life to those who eat this bread - the bread is His flesh.

22. Reflections on the gospel reading
Our catechism teaches us that we are called to receive Jesus in the Holy Communion.
When we receive Jesus, we allow Him to come to us.
To receive Jesus truly, we must be properly disposed.
What keeps holding us back from Jesus?

23. Tying the 3 readings and the Psalm
God provides food for the desperate / lonely prophet Elijah after his successful bout with the prophets of Baal (1st reading)
God truly supports his people especially those who are hard up. (Psalm)
Christ is the reason for Christian living (ethical and moral life), life that communicates love, forgiveness, etc. (2nd reading).
Jesus Christ is the food himself (bread) coming down from heaven (gospel).

24. How to develop your homily and sharing
Tell your own story when you were broken, defeated, demoralized, in spite of your victories and accomplishments.
Like Elijah, we tend to run away (to give up).
The first reading tries to console us.
We must keep our fighting spirit alive.
We continue listening to God’s instructions (Arise and eat for you have a long journey yet).
For our tasks and successes are not over yet.

25. The psalm celebrates God who listens to our prayers.
It reflects a prayer of Elijah.
The psalm affirms that God is ever at the side of the disaffected, oppressed and forgotten.
The psalm consoles each of us, who experience rejection and hunger.
It also invites us to celebrate in public the favors that we might have received in private.

26. Now, if we have a strong character, we may not be able to identify ourselves with Elijah.
We won’t allow ourselves to be violated or crucified, in the name of human rights.
When people hit us hard, we might want to hit them hard too
The second reading helps us to temper our strong emotions and belligerent and vindictive behaviors.

27. The gospel reading encourages all Christians to eat the bread of life, from heaven.
It is a great disservice to Jesus and to the Church if we refuse to receive holy communion.
It is not a futile exercise of piety, it is the highest expression of our assent to the will of God, to be in communion with him.
It is an active and dignified practice of our religion.
We should not be ashamed to come forward to receive Jesus.

28. The eucharist is a sacrament of God’s intervention in our lives.
The eucharist is the food for our spiritual journey.
Like the manna in the desert, it is available to everyone, who wants to come closer to Jesus.
With Jesus, there is no shortage of spiritual food.
That little consecrated host is Jesus.

29. Our Context
Well prepared Christians who receive the sacraments devotedly
First communicants
Evangelized people
Eucharistic communities
No catechism
Non reception of holy communion
No response to the call to renew
The End

30. Suggested Songs It’s Time to Prepare, offertory
Mukha ng Panginoon, communion
For August 15, 2009 Assumption
Mary Was Once an Ordinary Girl