Our Holy Father’s Gift of Faith

21^st  Sunday in Ordinary Time, year B

Il-21 Ħadd matul is-Sena B

Messalin B pp446

Reading 1                 Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b

Joshua gathered together all the tribes of Israel at Shechem,  summoning their elders, their leaders, their judges, and their officers. When they stood in ranks before God, Joshua addressed all the people: "If it does not please you to serve the LORD,   decide today whom you will serve,  the gods your fathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are now dwelling. As for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." But the people answered, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD for the service of other gods. For it was the LORD, our God, who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, out of a state of slavery. He performed those great miracles before our very eyes and protected us along our entire journey and among the peoples through whom we passed. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God."

L-Ewwel Qari  -  mill-Ktieb ta' Ġożwe 24, 1-2; 15-17

F'dak iż-żmien:   Ġożwe' ġema'  t-tribujiet kollha ta' Israel f'Sikem u sejjaħ lix-xjuħ  lill-kapijiet, lill-imħallfin  lill-uffiċjali u resqu quddiem Alla. U  Ġożwe' qal lill-poplu kollu: "Jekk ma jogħġobkomx taqdu l-Mulej,  għażlu llum lil min tridu taqdu: jekk hux  l-allat li kienu jaqdu missirijietkom lil  hemm mix-xmara, jew  l-allat tal-Amurrin li  f'arthom qegħdin tgħammru.   Imma jien u dari naqdu  l-Mulej." U l-poplu kollu wieġeb u qal:   "Ma jkun qatt li  aħna nħallu l-Mulej biex naqdu  allat oħra!   Għax kien il-Mulej, Alla tagħna, li talla' lilna u  'l missirijietna mill-art ta' l-Eġittu, minn dar il-jasar, u  li għamel quddiemna stess dawk il-ħwejjeġ kbar, u  ħarisna matul it-triq kollha li minna għaddejna u  fost il-popli li minn ġo nofshom qsamna. Għalhekk aħna wkoll lill-Mulej naqdu,  għaliex hu Alla tagħna." Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm                   PSALM  34:  2-3, 16-17, 18-19, 20-21

R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.                                     R/

The LORD has eyes for the just,
and ears for their cry.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.          R/

When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.                    R/

Many are the troubles of the just one,
but out of them all the LORD delivers him;
he watches over all his bones;
not one of them shall be broken.                                            R/

Salm Responsorjali    - Salm 33 (34)

R/  Ippruuvaw u taraw kemm hu  tajjeb il-Mulej.

Kull ħin imbierek il-Mulej,

tifħiru dejjem fuq fommi.

Bil-Mulej tiftaħar ruħi;

jisimgħu l-fqajrin u jifirħu!                                          R/

Għajnejn il-Mulej lejn il-ġusti,

u widnejh miftuħa għall-għajta tagħhom.

Il-ħarsa tal-Mulej fuq il-ħżiena,

biex eqred minn fuq l-art tifkirithom.                    R/

Jgħajtu  l-ġusti għall-għajnuna, u l-Mulej jismagħhom;

mid-dwejjaq kollha tagħhom jeħlishom.

Qrib il-Mulej lejn dawk b'qalbhom maqsuma,

jgħin lil dawk b'ruħhom mifnija.                              R/

Kbar huma l-ħsarat tar-raġel sewwa,

iżda minnhom kollha jeħilsu l-Mulej.

Iħarislu għadmu kollha,

ebda waħda  ma titkissirlu.                                         R/

Il-ħażin ħżunitu teqirdu;

min jobgħod il-ġust iħallas għall-ħtija.

Jifdi l-Mulej il-ħajja tal-qaddejja tiegħu; 

kull min jistkenn fih ma jkollux ħtija xi jpatti.    R/

Reading 2                                         Ephesians 5:21-32

Brothers and sisters:    Be subordinate to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives should be subordinate to their husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is head of his wife just as Christ is head of the church, he himself the savior of the body. As the church is subordinate to Christ, so wives should be subordinate to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the bath of water with the word, that he might present to himself the church in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. So also husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one hates his own flesh but rather nourishes and cherishes it, even as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This is a great mystery, but I speak in reference to Christ and the church.

It-Tieni Qari  --  mill-Ittra lill-Efesin 5, 21 -32

Ħuti,  oqogħdu għal xulxin fil-biża' ta' Kristu: Intom in-nisa oqogħoduu  għal żwieġhom,  bħallikieku għall-Mulej, għax ir-raġel hu  r-ras il-mara bħalma Kristu hu r-ras il-Knisja,  s-Salvatur tal-Ġisem tiegħu.   Għallhekk,  bħalma l-Knisja toqgħod għal Kristu, hekk  ukoll  in-nisa għandhom joqogħdu għal żwieġhom f'kollox.Intom, l-irġiel, ħobbu n-nisa tagħkom, kif Kristu   ħabb il-Knisja u ta ħajtu għaliha.  U dan għamlu  biex iqaddisha u jnaddafha bil-ħasil ta' l-ilma u l-kelma  u biex  iressaqha quddiemu, din  il-Knisja, sabiħa, bla   tebgħa, bla tikmix, bla għajb, u b'xejn minn dan,   imma qaddisa u bla tmaqdir minn  ħadd. Hekk għandhom  ukoll l-irġiel iħobbu n-nisa tagħhom bħalikienu ġisimhom stess. Min iħobb 'il martu ikun iħobb lilu nnifsu. Qatt ħadd ma  bagħad 'l-ġismu stess, iżda jmantnih u jieħu ħsiebu,  bħalma jagħmel Kristu mal-Knisja, għax  aħna lkoll membri tal-Ġisem tiegħu. Għalhekk ir-raġel iħalli lil misieru u 'l ommu u jingħaqħad ma' martu,  u jsiru t-tnejn ġisem wieħed. Dan il-misteru – qiegħed ngħid għal Kristu u għall-Knisja  -  huwa kbir! Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Gospel                                                                                John  6:60-69

Many of Jesus' disciples who were listening said, "This saying is hard; who can accept it?" Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, "Does this shock you? What if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? It is the spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail. The words I have spoken to you are Spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe." Jesus knew from the beginning the ones who would not believe and the one who would betray him. And he said, "For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by my Father." As a result of this, many of his disciples returned to their  former way of life and no longer accompanied him. 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.  We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God."

L-Evanġelju  --  skond  San Ġwann 6, 60 –69

F'dak iż-żmien:,  Ġesu' tkellem fuq il-ħobż tal-ħajja. Hafna  dixxipli tiegħu, kif semgħuh, qalu: "Iebes dan il-kliem!  Min jiflaħ jisimgħu?"   Ġesu'  ntebaħ waħdu li d-dixxipli tiegħu  kienu  qiegħdin igergru fuq hekk, u  qalilhom: "Dan il-kliem  qiegħed ifixkilkom?  Mela xi tgħidu kieku kellkom taraw lil  Bin il-bniedem tiela' fejn kien qabel?   Hu l-Ispirtu  li jagħti  l-ħajja, il-ġisem ma jiswa għal xejn.    Il-kliem li jien  għedtilkom huwa spirtu u  ħajja.   Iżda hemm xi wħud fostkom   li ma jemmnux."   Għaliex Ġesu' kien jaf sa mill-bidu min kienu  dawk li ma emmnux u min kien dak li kien sejjer jittradih.   U ssokta jgħidilhom:  "Kien għalhekk  li jiena għidtilkom   li ħadd ma jista'jiġi għandi jekk il-Missier ma jgħtix  li jiġi.Minn dakinhar bosta mid-dixxipli tiegħu telquh u ma baqgħux  imorru warajh.    Imbagħad Ġesu' qal lit-Tnax:  "Tridux titilqu  intom ukoll?"    Wieġbu Xmun Pietru:  "Mulej, għand min immorru?    Inti għandek il-kliem tal-ħajja ta' dejjem,  u aħna emminna u għarafna  li inti l-Qaddis ta' Alla." Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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 COMMENTARY:   by Fr Raniero Cantalamessa ofm cap

This week I would like to focus attention on the second reading of next Sunday’s Eucharistic celebration (Ephesians 5:21-32) because it has a theme of great interest for the family.   Reading Paul's words with modern eyes, one immediately sees a difficulty. Paul recommends to husband that they "love" their wives (and this is good), but he also recommends to women that they be submissive to their husbands, and this -- in a society strongly (and justly) conscious of the equality of the sexes -- seems unacceptable.

In fact, it's true. On this point St. Paul is conditioned in part by the mentality of his age. However, the solution is not in eliminating from relations between husbands and wives the word "submission," but, perhaps, in making it mutual, as love must also be mutual.  In other words, not only must husbands love their wives, but wives must also love their husbands. Not only must wives be subject to their husbands, but also husbands to their wives, in mutual love and mutual submission.  

In this case, to be subject means to take into account the wishes, opinion and sensitivity of one's spouse; to discuss, not to decide on one's own; to be able to give up one's own point of view. In short, to remember that both are "spouses," that is, literally, persons who are under "the same yoke," freely chosen.  

The Apostle gives Christian spouses as model the relationship of love that exists between Christ and the Church, but he explains immediately in what such love consisted: "Christ loved the Church and gave himself up for her." True love is manifested in "giving" oneself to the other.

There are two ways of expressing one's love for the beloved. The first is to give presents, to fill the other with gifts; the second, much more demanding, consists in suffering for one's spouse.   God loved us in the first way when he created us and filled us with goods: Heaven, earth, flowers, our bodies, everything is a gift of his. But then, in the fullness of time, in Christ, he came to us and suffered for us, unto death on the cross. 

This is also true in human love. At the beginning, the newly married express their love with gifts. But the time comes for all when presents are not enough. It is necessary to be able to suffer with and for the beloved. One must love despite the limitations one discovers in the other, and despite the moments of poverty and illnesses.

This is true love which is like Christ's.   

In general, the first kind of love is called "seeking love" (with a Greek word, eros); the second kind, "giving love" (with the Greek word agape).  The sign that a couple is passing from seeking to giving love, from eros to agape, is this: Instead of saying "What more could my husband do for me (respectively, my wife) which he still does not do?" one begins to ask: "What more could I do for my husband (or my wife) which I still have not done?"

[Translation by ZENIT]   © Innovative Media Inc.

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Health Food for the Soul

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 119

 

L-20 Ħadd matul is-Sena B

Messalin B pp 441

 

Reading 1        PRoVerbs 9:1-6

Wisdom has built her house, she has set up her seven columns; she has dressed her meat, mixed her wine, yes, she has spread her table. She has sent out her maidens; she calls from the heights out over the city: “Let whoever is simple turn in here; To the one who lacks understanding, she says, Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed! Forsake foolishness that you may live; advance in the way of understanding.”   This is the Word of the Lord.

L-Ewwel Qari     -   mill-Ktieb tal-Proverbji 9, 1-6

Il-Għerf  bena d-dar tiegħu,  waqqaf  is-seba' kolonn i tagħha; qatel il-bhejjem imsemmna, ħejja l-inbid  u l-mejda tiegħu. U  bagħat il-qaddejja jxandru   l-istedina minn  fuq l-imkejjen għolja tal-belt: "Min hu ċkejken ħa jiġi għandi!" U min hu bla moħħ jgħidlu: "Ejjew, kulu ħobż tiegħi u ixorbu l-inbid li ħejjejt għalikom. Warrbu l-bluħat tagħkom, u tgħixu, u timxu 'l quddiem fl-għaqal." Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm                     PSalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7

I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

 Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Salm Responsojali     -    Salm  33  (34)

                       R/ Ippruvaw  u taraw kemm hu tajjeb il-Mulej

Kull  ħin inbierek 'il-Mulej.

Tifħiru dejjem f'fommi.

Bil-Mulej tiftaħar ruħi,

jisimgħu l-fqajrin u jifirħu!                                          R/

Ibżgħu mill-Mulej, qaddisin tiegħu,

xejn ma  jonqsu min jibża' minnu.

Is-setgħana jiftaqru u jbata l-ġuħ;

min ifittex il-Mulej xejn ma jkun jonqsu.                             R/

Ejjew, uliedi, isimgħu  lili;

jiena l-biża tal-Mulej ngħallimkom.

Min hu l-bniedem li jħobb il-ħajja,

u jixtieq jara għomru kullu riżq?                                               R/

Ħares ilsienek mill-ħażen,

u  xofftejk minn kliem il-qerq.

Tbiegħed mill-ħażen u agħmel it-tajjeb,

fittex is-sliem u  imxi warajh.                                    R/

Reading 2                     EPHesians 5:15-20

Brothers and sisters: Watch carefully how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore, do not continue in  ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord.  And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. This is the Word of the Lord.

It-Tieni Qari  -  mill-Ittra lill-Efesin 5, 15-20

Ħuti,  qisu sewwa kif iġġibu ruħkom,  mhux bħal nies bla dehen, iżda bħal nies għorrief,  li jgħożżu ż-żmien, għaliex ħżiena  huma l-jiem.   Għalhekk tkunux bla għaqal,  imma fittxu x'inhi  r-rieda tal-Mulej. U tiskrux bl-inbid, li fih hemm ħajja bla lġiem,  iżda mtlew bl-Ispirtu. Kantaw flimkien salmi,  innijiet u għana spiritwali;  kantaw u għannu  minn qalbkom lill-Mulej. Roddu dejjem ħajr għal kollox lil Alla u   l-Missier,f'isem Sidna Ġesu' Kristu. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Gospel                      JohN 6:51-58

Jesus said to the crowds: “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.” The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”  Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.  For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.  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, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me.  This is the bread that came down from heaven.  Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.”  This is the Word of the Lord.

Qari mill-Evanġelju skond San Ġwann 6, 51 -58

F'dak iż-żmien,   Ġesu' qal lin-nies;  "Jien hu l-ħobż ħaj, li niżel mis-sema.    Jekk xi ħadd jiekol minn dan il-ħobż jgħix għal dejjem.  U l-ħobż jiena nagħti huwa ġismi għal ħajja ta' dejjem." Fuq hekk il-Lhud tlewwmu bejniethom, u bdew jgħidu: "Kif jista' dan jagħtina ġismu biex nikluh?"  Ġesu' mela, qalilhom:  "Tassew, tassew ngħidilkom jekk  ma tiklux  il-ġisem ta' Bin il-bniedem u ma tixorbux demmu,  ma jkollkomx il-ħajja fikom.     Min jiekol ġismi u jixrob demmi għandu l-ħajja ta' dejjem,  u  jiena  nqajmu mill-imwiet fl-aħħar jum.   Għax ġismi huwa  ikel tassew, u demmi hu tassew  xorb. Min jiekol ġismi u jixrob demmi, jibqa fija u jiena fih. Bħalma bagħatni l-Missier,  li hu ħaj, u jien ngħix b'Missieri,  hekk ukoll min jiekol lili,  hu wkoll igħix bija.    Dan huwa l-ħobż li niżel mis-sema; mhuwiex bħal dak  li kielu missirijietkom  u mietu; min jiekol dan   il-ħobż igħix għal dejjem." Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

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HEALTH FOOD  FOR THE SOUL –

by Fr. Thomas Rosica, CSB, CEO, Salt and Light Catholic Media Foundation

In chapter six of John’s Gospel (v. 41-51), Jesus speaks of himself as “the living bread that came down from heaven” and invites his hearers to eat of this bread – that is, to believe in him.  He promises that those who do so will have eternal life. Jesus compares himself to the manna that came down from heaven to sustain the people of Israel in the wilderness. It is a vivid image that certainly evokes important memories for the people of Israel.

Then in John 6:51, Jesus says, “The bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” Then his hearers ask: “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” Did they respond in this way to give Jesus a chance to explain himself? Surely, they may have imagined, Jesus meant to say something else. After all, to eat someone’s flesh appears in the Bible as a metaphor for great hostility (Psalms 27:2; Zechariah 11:9). The drinking of blood was looked upon as an abomination forbidden by God’s law (Genesis 9:4, Leviticus 3:17; Deuteronomy 12:23).

Yet Jesus responds to the question by further explaining his initial declaration with explicit terms: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in them. ”No observant Jew would consider eating human flesh. We may ask ourselves: “Why couldn’t Jesus continue using such pleasant terms as “abiding,” “dwelling,” “living in me” terminology? Was he advocating pure cannibalism with such vivid imagery and language?

Flesh and blood

Jesus makes his sacrifice on behalf of the world – not just Israel (see also John 3:16-17). The Hebrew expression “flesh and blood” means the whole person. To receive the whole Jesus entails receiving his flesh and blood. To encounter Jesus means, in part, to encounter the flesh and blood of him. For those who receive Jesus, the whole Jesus, his life clings to their bones and courses through their veins. He can no more be taken from a believer’s life than last Saturday’s dinner can be extricated from one’s body.

True reception of Jesus

In our cerebral approach to religion we often assume that what really matters is believing some important religious dogmas or truths. Receiving Jesus can be reduced to a matter of intellectual assent. There are times, however, when we can be particularly grateful that the presence of Christ is not something that can be recognized cerebrally, but can be received by other means as well.  The bread that Jesus used to feed the 5,000 on the mountaintop was something less than true bread, because it satisfied the people’s hunger only momentarily. By way of contrast, Jesus’ flesh and blood are true food because “whoever eats of this bread will live forever” (v 51) – and “has eternal life” (v 54).

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven” (v 51a). This “living bread” parallels the “living water” that Jesus offered the Samaritan woman (4:10). To eat of this bread, in this context, means the once-and-for-all action of accepting or believing in Christ.

The ways we eat

Our eating style reflects and affects who and what we are. It identifies our approach to life. If we examine various societies and cultures, we see that each has its traditional foods and food rituals. “I am of Italian descent. I often eat spaghetti, lasagna, tortellini alla panna or pizza,” or “I am a real American. I eat hamburgers, hot dogs, steak, coke, and French fries.”   “I am Québecois. I feast on poutine and drink maple syrup.” The French eat crepes, Belgians eat waffles, Chinese eat rice, Palestinians and Israelis eat falafel, the Swiss eat chocolate, and Inuit eat whale blubber. In short, the “way we eat” reveals how we identify ourselves. It reflects and often determines our worldview, our values, and our entire approach to life.

Foods are much more than just a collection of nutrients; they are a wealth of influences and connotations. Rare foods and spices are treasured as special culinary delights. Some foods are worshiped in various cultures as having an unusual holiness or are avoided altogether. The type of food we choose can affect our moods. Hot, spicy, or stimulating foods may influence many of us toward hot-temperedness or nervousness. Cooling foods can relax us and give us peace of mind. Foods can help us celebrate and can comfort us when we mourn. They are a sign of love and are a means of uniting people on many occasions.

The “ways we eat” are an important part of our heritage. The soul is not nourished by physical bread, as the body is. The food we eat is actually a combination of both a physical and a spiritual entity. The body is nourished by the physical aspects, or nutrients, contained in the foods we eat; the soul is nourished by the spiritual power which enlivens the physical substance of all matter, including food.

For all who seek the presence of Christ, Jesus’ teaching in John’s Gospel is good news indeed: “We are what we eat.” We become what receive in the Eucharist. This week, let us examine our spiritual diets and look at the things that truly give us life, and those things that are junk foods that don’t lead us to eternal life.

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The Promise of Eternal Life

Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 116

Id-19-il Ħadd matul is-Sena

Messalin B  pp 436

Reading 1              1 KinGS 19:4-8

Elijah went a day’s journey into the desert, until he came to a broom tree and sat beneath it. He prayed for death saying: “This is enough, O LORD!  Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.”  He lay down and fell asleep under the broom tree, but then an angel touched him and ordered him to get up and eat.  Elijah looked and there at his head was a hearth cake and a jug of water.  After he ate and drank, he lay down again, 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!”  He got up, ate, and drank;  then strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights to the mountain of God, Horeb.

L-Ewwel Qari     -   mill-Ewwel Ktieb tas-Slaten 19, 4 – 8

F'dak iż-żmien,  il-Profeta Elija rħiela lejn id-deżert. Wara jum mixi waqaf, inxteħet  taħt siġra tal-ġummar, talab li jmut,  u qal:  "Issa biżżejjed, Mulej; ħudli 'l ħajti,  għax m'iniex aħjar minn missirijieti!" U mtedd għad-dell tal-ġummara u raqad. Kif  kien  rieqed  messu anġlu u qallu:  "Qum u kul!" Elija dawwar  wiċċu, u lemaħ ħdejn rasu ftira moħmija u  ġarra ilma;  kiel  u xorob, u raġa mtedd. Għat-tieni darba ġie l-anġlu tal-Mulej u raġa' messu u qallu: "Qum u kul, inkella ma  tkunx tiflaħ  għall-mixja li fadallek." Elija qam, kiel u xorob, u bis-saħħa ta' dak l-ikel u baqa'  miexi għal erbgħin jum u erbgħin lejl sa ma wasal Ħoreb,  il-muntanja tal-Mulej. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm                PSalm  34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Glorify the LORD with me,
Let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
And delivered me from all my fears.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Look to him that you may be radiant with joy.
And your faces may not blush with shame.
When the afflicted man called out, the LORD heard,
And from all his distress he saved him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.

Salm Responsorjali    -      Salm 33  (34)

                R/   Ippruvaw u taraw kemm hu tajjeb il-Mulej.

Kull ħin inbierek il-Mulej,

tifħiru dejjem fommi.

Bil-Mulej tiftaħar ruħi;

jisimgħu l-fqajrin u jifirħu!                          R/           

Xandru l-kobor tal-Mulej miegħi,

ħa ngħollu ismu flimkien.

Jien fittixt il-Mulej, u weġibni,

u minn kull biża' tiegħi ħelisni.                 R/

Ħarsu lejh u tiddu bil-ferħ wiċċkom

u ma jkollkomx  għax tistħu.

Dan il-fqajjar sejjaħ u l-Mulej semgħu,

u mid-dwejjaq tiegħu kollha ħelsu.        R/

L-anġlu tal-Mulej jgħasses

madwar dawk li jibżgħu  minnu, u jeħlishom.

Ippruvaw u taraw kemm hu tajjeb il-Mulej,

ħieni l-bniedem li jistkenn fih.                     R/

Reading 2           EPHesians 4:30—5:2

Brothers and sisters:  Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,  with which you were sealed for the day of redemption.   All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling  must be removed from you, along with all malice.  And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ. So be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love,  as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us  as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.

It-Tieni Qari   -    mill-Ittra lill-Efesin  4, 30 –5,2

Ħuti, tnikktux l-Ispirtu s-Sanntu  ta' Alla, li fih intom issiġillati  għall-jum il-fidwa.  Imrar, saħna, korla, tagħjir, għajjat, dan kollu warrbuh    minnkom, u  wkoll kull ħażen ieħor.   Kunu twajba ma'  xulxin,  ħennu għal xulxin, aħfru lil xulxin, bħalma Alla  ħafer lilkom fi Kristu. Kunu, mela,  tixbħu lil Alla, bħala wlied maħbuba, u imxu  fl-imħabba, bħalma  Kristu wkoll ħabb lilna u ta lilu nnifsu  għalina,  offerta u sagrifiċċju jfuħu quddiem Alla.   Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Gospel              JohN 6:41-51

The Jews murmured about Jesus because he said,  I am the bread that came down from heaven, ” 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 answered and said to them, “Stop murmuring among yourselves.  No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day.  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. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God;  he has seen the Father.  Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.  I am the bread of life.  Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die.  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.”

L-Evanġelju    -    Qari  skond San Ġwann 6, 41 – 51

F'dak iż-żmien,  il-Lhud bdew igergru fuq Ġesu  għax kien qal:  "Jien hu l-ħobż li niżel mis-sema". U bdew igħidu:  "Dan mhuwiex Ġesu', bin Ġużeppi? Lil missieru u 'l ommu ma nafuhomx?   Mela kif  qiegħed jgħid:  :"Jiena nżilt mis-sema"?" Ġesu' weġibhom:  "Toqgħodux  tgorru  bejnitkom." Ħadd  ma jista' jiġi għandi jekk il-Missier li bagħatni ma jiġbdux lejja;  u jien nqajmu mill-imwiet fl-aħħar jum. Hemm  miktub fil-profeti:   "U kulħadd ikun imgħallem  minn Alla."     Mela kull min jisma' lill-Missier u jitgħallem minnu jiġi għandi.  Mhux għax xi ħadd qatt ra  lill-Missier  ħlief  dak li hu minn Alla;  hu dan li ra  lill-Missier.    Tassew, tassew ngħidilkom, min jemmen  għandu l-ħajja ta' dejjem. Jiena hu l-ħobż tal-ħajja.  Missirijietkom  kielu l-manna  fid-deżert, u mietu; dan hu l-ħobż  niżel mis-sema, biex  min jiekol minnu ma jmutx. Jiena hu l-ħobż ħaj,  li niżel mis-sema.   Jekk  xi ħadd   jiekol minn dan il-ħobż jgħix għal dejjem.    U l-ħobż li  jiena nagħti huwa ġismi għall-ħajja tad-dinja." Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

////////////////////   Reflection by Larry Broding

The Promise of Eternal Life

Do you have life insurance coverage? Why is such coverage important to you and your family?

"Life insurance is the bet you pay against your death."  The idea of life insurance is illogical but necessary in our society. Despite the mean jokes about insurance salespeople (and my apologies to lawyers, politicians, and car salespeople), they provide a valuable service. We pay them in life, so they will care for our loved ones if we should die unexpectedly. It's a gamble, but one many of us are willing to take.

If so many of us accept the illogic of life insurance, why do so few of us accept the offer Jesus makes: trust me and live forever. He makes us this offer in Eucharist.

The gospel opened with discussion between Jesus and his audience in progress. The people "murmured" against the statement Jesus made. How could this local son claim so much? How could he hold himself so high as a prophet?  In a subtle way, John drew two contexts together. In both scenes, the people "murmured." In both scenes, God offered the people "bread from heaven." However, here the similarities ended. In the scene with Moses, God gave the people bread in response to their complaints. In the scene with Jesus, the people complained in response to God's offer itself.

Instead of God commanding silence from his people, Jesus himself called for attention. The Galilean spoke for God. He had the power of the Father, for his ministry began as God's initiative. (If "I will raise him up on the last day" is dropped from 6:44-45, both verses refer to God's activity in the ministry of Jesus.) Indeed, following Jesus itself came as a gift from God.

How could Jesus claim such the support of God? Because Jesus (and only Jesus) came from the Father and had "seen" the Father. Jesus found his source directly in the Father. Hence, he claimed to witness for the Father (for he "had seen God and lived"). The power of resurrection stemmed from Jesus' source and witness (6:43b and 6:47).

The image of bread threaded the themes from 6:44-46 together: God's initiative in the ministry of Jesus, the source and witness of Jesus, and the power to raise up the faithful. As THE food staple, bread represented life. As the heavenly bread, Jesus would feed the world by 1) "coming down from heaven" (a reference to his source and witness) and 2) giving bread to the faithful so that "he might eat and not die" and might "live into the final age" (a reference to the resurrection).

Ultimately, the Father gave this bread (i.e., the life of Jesus) for "the life of the world." In other words, salvation became an extension of creation, for the death and resurrection of Christ would usher in a new time and new creation. Followers would receive the "bread of life" as a result of the Father's invitation.

What spiritual experiences have you had in Communion? How has the Eucharist helped you live, renewed your faith, and given you hope?

What a life insurance policy Jesus offers us! In the bread and wine of Eucharist, he gives us the means to life everlasting. It is not a hedge against the unexpected, but a sure promise that we will live despite what will happen.

The cost is so small, yet so few want to pay. It seems parting with our money is easier than parting with our trust. Yet, who else should we trust with our lives?

Who else should we trust? On a piece of paper, write down a list of the people you trust in life in one column. In the other column, write down why you trust them. Where does God fit on that sheet? Use this exercise as a reflection on the place of God in life and his offer to you that the Eucharist represents.

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GIVE US ALWAYS OF THIS BREAD...

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Lectionary: 113

It-Tmintax-il Hadd taz-Zmien ta’ Matul is-Sena    

Messalin 431   

Reading 1         EXodus 16:2-4, 12-15

The whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 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!” 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.  “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.” In the evening quail came up and covered the camp.  In the morning a dew lay all about the camp, and when the dew evaporated, there on the surface of the desert were fine flakes like ho arfrost on the ground.  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 that the LORD has given you to eat.”  This is the Word of The Lord.

1Qari    -   Ktieb tal-EZODU 16:2-4, 12-15

F’dak iz-zmien,  fid-dezert, il-gemgha kollha ta’ wlied Izrael bdew igergru kontra Mosè u Aron.  Ulied Izrael qalulhom: «Mhux li mitna b’id il-Mulej fl-art tal-Egittu, meta konna hdejn il-borom tal-laham u konna nieklu hobz bix-xaba’! Hrigtuna f’dan id-dezert biex toqtlu bil-guh din il-gemgha kollha!»  Il-Mulej imbaghad qal lil Mosè: «Ara, se nibaghtilkom xita ta’ hobz mis-sema. Il-poplu kollu johrog u jig bor minn jum ghal iehor kemm ikun jenhtieg ghall-gurnata, biex hekk ingarrabhom u nara jimxux mal-ligi tieghi jew le. Jien smajt it-tgergir ta’ wlied Izrael. Kellimhom u ghidilhom: “Filghaxija tieklu l-laham u filghodu tixbghu bil-hobz. U tkunu tafu li jiena l-Mulej, Alla taghkom.”» U gara li filghaxija dehret qatgha summien tittajjar fl-gholi u ghattiet it-tined kollha, u filghodu kien hemm wiçç nida madwar it-tined. Meta din in-nida ghabet, fuq wiçç id-dezert kien hemm xi haga rqiqa qisha glata fuq l-art. Malli wlied Izrael raw dan, bdew jghidu wiehed lil iehor: «Man-hu?» – Ghax ma gharfux x’inhu. Mosè qalilhom: «Dan hu l-ikel li l-Mulej takom biex tieklu.» Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Responsorial Psalm                  Psalm:3-4, 23-24, 25, 54

What we have heard and know,
and what our fathers have declared to us,
We will declare to the generation to come
the glorious deeds of the LORD and his strength
and the wonders that he wrought.
R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.

He commanded the skies above
and opened the doors of heaven;
he rained manna upon them for food
and gave them heavenly bread.

R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.

Man ate the bread of angels,
food he sent them in abundance.
And he brought them to his holy land,
to the mountains his right hand had won.
R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.

Salm Responsorjali              SALM 77 (78), 3.4bç.23-24.25.54 Rl . (24b):

Dak li smajna u tghallimna,

dak li qalulna missirijietna,

inxandruh lin-nisel ta’ warajhom:

tifhir il-Mulej u l-qawwa tieghu,

u l-ghegubijiet li ghamel.

Rl . Il-Mulej tahom il-qam˙ mis-sema.

Imma hu ordna s-shab fl-gholi,

u feta˙ bwieb is-smewwiet;

u xita ta’ manna baghtilhom x’jieklu,

tahom il-qam˙ mis-sema.

Rl . Il-Mulej tahom il-qam˙ mis-sema.

Kull wiehed kiel il-hobz tal-qalbenin,

ikel bix-xaba’ bagtilhom.

U dahhalhom fl-art imqaddsa tieghu,

fuq l-gholja li kisbet il-leminija tieghu.

Rl . Il-Mulej tahom il-qam˙ mis-sema.

Reading 2                  EPHesians 4:17, 20-24

Brothers and sisters: I declare and testify in the Lord that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds; that is not how you learned Christ, assuming that you have heard of him and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus, that you should put away the old self of your former way of life, corrupted through deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth.   This is the Word of The Lord.

2  Qari      -     mill-Ittra lill-EFESIN  4, 17.20-24

Huti, jiena dan nghdilkom u nwissikom quddiem il-Mulej: li ma ggibux izjed ruhkom skont ma jgibu ruhhom il-pagani bil-bluha ta’ mohhhom.   Imma intom mhux hekk tghallimtuh’il Kristu - jekk intom smajtuh u tghallimtuh skont il-verità li hi f’Gesù - jigifieri, li ghandkom twarrbu l-hajja taghkom ta’ qabel u tinzghu l-bniedem il-qadim, imhassar bix-xewqat tal-pjaçiri qarrieqa, u li ghandkom tiggeddu b’tibdila spiritwali tal-fehma taghkom u tilbsu l-bniedem il-gdid, mahluq skont Alla, fil-gustizzja u l-qdusija tassew. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

Gospel             JohN 6:24-35

When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus.  And when they found him across the sea they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?”  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.  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.”  So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?”  Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”  So they said to him, “What sign can you do, that we may see and believe in you?  What can you do?  Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”  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.  For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” So they said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”  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.”  This is the Word of The Lord.

Evangelju -  Qari skont San Gwann  6:24-35

F’dak iz-zmien, in-nies meta ntebhu li fuq id-dghajsa la kien hemm Gesù u lanqas id-dixxipli tieghu, telghu fuq id-dghajjes u marru lejn Kafarnahum ifittxu lil Gesù.  U meta sabuh in-naha l-ohra tal-bahar staqsewh: «Rabbi, meta gejt hawn?» Gesù wegibhom: «Tassew tassew nghidilkom, intom qeghdin tfittxuni mhux ghax rajtu sinjali, imma ghax kiltu mill-hobz u xbajtu.   Thabtu mhux ghall-ikel li jghaddi, izda ghall-ikel li jibqa’ ghall-hajja ta’ dejjem, dak li Bin il-bniedem jaghtikom, ghaliex lilu Alla l-Missier immarka bis-sigill tieghu.»  Imbaghad staqsewh: «X’ghandna naghmlu biex naghmlu l-opri ta’ Alla?» Wegibhom Gesù: «L-opra ta’ Alla hija din: li intom temmnu f’dak li huwa baghat.» Qalulu: «X’sinjal se taghmel biex ahna narawh u nemmnuk? X’sejjer taghmel? Missirijietna kielu l-manna fid-dezert, bhalma hemm miktub, “Tahom jieklu hobz mis-sema.”» Wegibhom Gesù: «Tassew tassew nghidilkom, mhux Mosè takom il-hobz mis-sema, izda Missieri jaghtikom il-hobz tassew mis-sema; ghaliex il-hobz ta’ Alla huwa dak li jinzel mis-sema u jaghti l-hajja lid-dinja.» Qalulu huma: «Sinjur, aghtina dejjem minn dan il-hobz.» Wegibhom Gesù: «Jiena hu l-hobz tal-hajja. Min jigi ghandi ma jiehdu qatt il-guh, u min jemmen fija ma jkun qatt bil-ghatx!» Il-Kelma tal-Mulej

//////////////       A reflection by Larry Broding

Then and Now

Are you a "news hound?"    Do you like to watch new talk shows or listen to political debates?   Do you like to engage others in discussions of politics?   Why?

In these uncertain times, many people find comfort in a world view that divides people into opposing camps. Us vs. them. Conservative vs. liberal. Those on the right concern themselves with preserving timeless, almost eternal values to enrich life today. Those on the left desire to liberate the oppressed from the prejudices of the past and give them their just due. So, the political and cultural fault lines are drawn. The past is a sure guidepost to the present. The present is the moment to free us and ensure a glorious future. This might be a crass way to see the world. But, it makes for interesting politics and boosts ratings for cable news networks.

Once in a while, dwelling in the past does fog our openness to what confronts us. Spirituality is more than cherishing tradition. This was the message Jesus gave to his audience: "Don't merely look to the past for answers. Look to me!"

After the sign of the loaves and fishes, John began the discourse on the Bread of Life that will last in the readings for the next four Sundays. In typical Johannine fashion, the dialogue worked on two levels, 1) between Jesus and his audience and 2) between John's community and the synagogues influenced by the Pharisees. In the case of the level two, there was a tug-of-war between a spirituality focused on the present and one focused on the past. Between one centered on the activity of God now, and one concerned primarily about God's action in the history. Between presence and tradition . Of course, God's action in the past and the present cannot be separated. But the feeble minds of people needed a hook, a vantage point to see God working. Time was a perfect starting point.

The crowd that was fed sought Jesus for more satisfaction. If Jesus fed them once, he would feed them again. With bread. With preaching about the Kingdom. With insight. With signs of God's power. But, Kingdom was not about personal satisfaction. It was about faith in Jesus. The crowd focused upon what they could get from Jesus. Not what they could give to Jesus.

This difference between take vs. give set up the tension and misunderstanding in the passage. The bread the people received would spoil. But, the Bread that gave eternal life stood before them. This man, this Jesus, was the One God placed his seal of approval upon. God empowered his Son and his Son's ministry.

The people had no problem seeing Jesus as a teacher of the Law. God had blessed many men as religious leaders. And they were ready to hear a populist teacher, not one from the untrusted Establishment. The question they asked was a standard one about the Law. The "works of God" were either duties from the commands found in the Torah or religious prescriptions from an interpretation of the Law. "What can we do?" With this question, the people sought a trustworthy road to travel that was different from the Pharisees. It was a road based upon the activity of God in the past.

Jesus must have shocked them with his answer. "Trust me! Now!"

The people demanded a sign. Giving bread was not enough. For their ancestors received manna in the desert from Moses. What would Jesus give them?

Jesus corrected their thinking. It was not Moses who gave them bread. It was God. And the bread God gave was not for the Exodus community at the birth of the nation. It was for the audience of Jesus. Now! It came down from heaven. And would give life to the entire world, not just the complaining tribes of Israel back then in the desert. Now!

The people still wanted to be fed. They understood the import of Jesus' correction. But, were they ready to hear what he would present to them?

"I AM the Bread of Life!" Jesus' answer must have shocked them (again!) in two ways. First, Jesus used the phrase "I AM," buzz words in John's gospel that equated Jesus with God. He used shorthand for YHWH, the title God revealed to Moses in Exodus 3:14: "I am who am."

Second, Jesus did not say he would give them bread. He stated that, in his divinity, HE was the Bread of Life. To feed from him, people would have to come and to trust him. Then, they would be truly satisfied.

For John's audience, of course, only the Christian community held up the Christ as one to be worshiped as God. So, the only way to come and trust was through that community. This was the challenge Christianity lay before its Jewish competitors. The activity of God was present in the community, because the Christ was present. While what God did was important, what God was doing now was more important.

How is God active in your life now? How does the Bible and tradition help that insight?

Did Jesus really think the past was unimportant? Should we? The answer to both is: "Of course not!" Jesus did not come to reject tradition. He came to change the focus of God's people. From the Law. To himself. He challenges us in the same way. He is not only the Lord who died and rose two thousand years ago. And gave us a Church with a deep and long tradition. No! He is our Lord! Now! He chides and challenges us to come to him and trust in him. To see him work in our lives and the lives of those around us.

As important as tradition is (and it is!), the spiritual sight to realize the presence of God is far more important. Let us open our eyes, our minds, and our hearts. Let us go and trust. Now!

Quiet your mind and heart to the presence of God. What is he telling you? How is he beckoning you closer right now?

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