By Father Paul Nord, O.S.B.
Sunday Scripture
First Reading: Proverbs 9:1-6; Response: Psalm 34:2-7; Second Reading: Ephesians 5:15-20; Gospel: John 6:51-58
In the book of Proverbs, the speaker is “the father” who is speaking to “the son” to whom he is giving advice. Thus the reader is assumed to be male, and Wisdom is presented as a woman with whom the son might enter into relationship. She is sometimes called “Lady Wisdom.” Proverbs contrasts Wisdom with Folly — also presented with a female persona. The father wants his son to live a good and happy life — by making wise choices in his life.
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline” (Proverbs 1:7). Near the beginning of Proverbs, this verse insists that making wise choices in life begins with reverence for God our creator — the source of all wisdom. The following verses admonish the hearer to accept correction and instruction from his mother and father and to avoid sinners who would entice him to cooperate in their misdeeds (Proverbs 1:8-19).
Proverbs 1-9 uses “the path” (or way, road, journey, etc.) as a metaphor for life. Proverbs gives advice on how to follow the “right path” — which will protect us from life’s many dangers. The first Psalm likewise uses this path metaphor: “because the LORD knows the way (Hebrew: derek) of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin” (Psalm 1:6). The first Christian community is called “the way” (Greek: he hodos) several times in the Acts of the Apostles.
Today’s reading begins a kind of crescendo that finishes the themes of the first nine chapters of Proverbs. Wisdom speaks in these verses — making an invitation: “‘Let whoever is simple turn in here; To the one who lacks understanding,’ she says.” This is not an insult. Rather, it is an invitation to those who are immature or naive — and who have the humility and self-knowledge to admit that. Such a person is invited to: “Forsake foolishness that you may live.” Instead, Lady Wisdom offers instruction in “understanding.”
Food and wine are used as a metaphorical image for the “banquet” that Wisdom offers. Lady Wisdom is described as carefully preparing this feast, and then inviting the young man to “eat of my food” — and thus to come to know wisdom. Great effort has been made to prepare this sumptuous banquet, and it is served in Wisdom’s splendid “house.” The reader of Proverbs is invited to receive wisdom from this work. If he chooses to “eat” of Wisdom’s banquet, then he will grow in understanding, and in the ability to make wise life choices.
The second reading — from the letter to the Ephesians — also makes this contrast of foolish persons versus wise persons. The danger is ignorance, and so we must choose to “try to understand what is the will of the Lord.”
Paul then contrasts getting drunk on wine versus being “filled with the Spirit.” This surprising contrast is explained by remembering that abundant wine was associated with the coming age of salvation brought by the Messiah. For example, see the following prophetic texts: Amos 9:13-14, Joel 2:24 and Isaiah 25:6 and 55:1-2.
Wine in moderation can make people joyful. Much more is today’s age of the Messiah a time of great rejoicing because God is pouring out his Spirit upon humanity and all creation. Although sin and death still remain in our world, Jesus Christ has already brought “the kingdom of God” — and the Holy Spirit has already been poured into our hearts as a “first installment” as we await Christ’s return to destroy sin and death forever.
Thus Paul insists that we should rejoice in the Spirit — not in wine or debauchery. Paul tells the Ephesians to address “one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts.” That is, Paul envisions a musical expression of the joy of our Spirit-filled hearts. Thus we should “give thanks always and for everything.” Why? Because Jesus Christ has redeemed us. We give thanks “to God the Father” in Jesus’ “name.”
Today’s Gospel (John 6) continues Jesus’ “Bread of Life” teaching from John’s Gospel, chapter 6. The language of John 6 is similar to the “Last Supper” accounts found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. In addition, St. Paul gives us an account of the Last Supper in 1 Corinthians 11:23-27. The Eucharistic liturgies of the early Church likewise indicate that Jesus used words and terminology similar to these New Testament accounts.
The first verse of today’s gospel is a thorough summary of Jesus’ teaching: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven.” Jesus then tells us that we must eat this bread to live forever. Jesus further explains that this “living bread” is “my flesh” — which will be given “for the life of the world.”
The future tense is notable: “the bread that I will give.” This points forward in time to Jesus’ crucifixion, freely chosen. This helps us realize that Jesus’ promise to give “my flesh” is a promise to offer his body as sacrifice for our salvation in his crucifixion.
But we must do more than simply recognize that Christ has given his body/flesh for our salvation. We must also eat his body/flesh in order to have life. Jesus insists upon this so strongly that “The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, ‘How can this man give us his flesh to eat?’” Jesus begins his response with “Amen, amen.” These words mark Jesus’ most emphatic teachings throughout John’s Gospel. The meaning of “amen” is to insist on the truth of one’s words.
After this double “amen,” Jesus insists: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.” Jesus gives further emphasis by saying the same thing twice — first as a negative, and then as a positive. Don’t consume his flesh and blood, and you do not have life. If you do consume his flesh and blood, then you will have life.