By Father Paul Nord, O.S.B.
Sunday Scripture
First Reading: 1 Kings 19:4-8; Response: Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9; Second Reading: Ephesians 4:30–5:2; Gospel: John 6:41-51
Our first reading (1 Kings 19) features the great prophet Elijah, who called the Israelites back to the right worship of God. They had sinned against God by worshipping Baal — under the influence of the evil rulers King Ahab and Queen Jezebel (1 Kings 16:29ff). Elijah had publicly defeated the prophets of Baal (1 Kings 18) to show the Israelites that the Lord God ruled over all. Queen Jezebel responded by threatening to kill Elijah, and so he fled for fear of his life. Today’s reading describes this fearful escape. It says that Elijah “prayed for death” saying: "This is enough, O LORD! Take my life.” In his despair, Elijah falls asleep under a broom tree.
In response, God sends an angel, who touches Elijah and orders him to arise and eat. The angel provides Elijah food and drink. He consumes this but then lays down again. The angel returns and again orders Elijah to “get up and eat.” The angel reveals that he is preparing Elijah for a journey — for which he needs strength.
After this, Elijah walks “to the mountain of God, Horeb.” Most scholars believe “Horeb” to be another name for Mount Sinai — where God made a covenant with the Israelites. Exodus 19 to 24 describes these events. In this covenant, God made the Israelites his people. Through Moses, God gave them the Law, and he commanded them to keep it.
To reach Mount Horeb/Sinai, Elijah walks “forty days and forty nights.” In Exodus 24:18, Moses spent “forty days and forty nights” on Mount Sinai receiving the law of God. When the prophet Elijah journeys to Mount Horeb, he is obeying the command of God’s angel. In this way, God is renewing his covenant with the Israelites, with Elijah representing God’s people. Elijah’s prophetic message should prompt the Israelites to repent and to recommit themselves to keeping the Law.
The Gospels repeatedly show the prophet Elijah’s importance to the people of Jesus’ day. For example, Mark 8:27-29 and 9:11-13 show the Jewish expectation that Elijah would return to inaugurate God’s kingdom, the Messianic age. Further, during the Transfiguration of Jesus (Mark 9:2-8), Moses and Elijah appear together and they converse with Jesus. This is witnessed by Peter, James, and John. God’s voice then speaks: “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.” The presence of Moses and Elijah are a testimony to the truth of these words. Moses and Elijah represent God’s covenant with the Israelites, but now Jesus is establishing a new covenant for all humanity.
Next, from the letter to the Ephesians, Paul is instructing them about the importance of living holy lives in witness to Christ Jesus. He reminds them of the Holy Spirit which they received in their baptism, and how sinful actions “grieve” the Holy Spirit, who should dwell in their hearts. Paul speaks of “the day of redemption” – which is the second coming of Christ in glory. The Holy Spirit is a “first installment” given to us while we await the fullness of God’s kingdom when Christ comes again. But if we act in “bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling,” then we make ourselves unworthy of the gift of the Holy Spirit given to us.
Paul then describes right Christian conduct: “be kind to one another, compassionate,
forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.” Paul further develops this by commanding the Ephesians to “be imitators of God” and to “live in love” – in imitation of Christ’s love for us. Paul points to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross as the ultimate expression of his love for us. Paul describes this “sacrificial offering” of Christ which make a “fragrant aroma” to the glory of God.
Today’s Gospel continues the “Bread of Life” teaching of Jesus from John 6. In these verses, Jesus makes two key claims. First: “I am the bread of life” which gives life to those who receive him. Second, Jesus says: “I have come down from heaven.” This is a re-stating of something Jesus says again and again in John’s Gospel – “the Father has sent me and I do his will.” Thus, Jesus has come from heaven – from God.
When Jesus insistently repeats these claims, “the Jews murmured” in disbelief. They know Jesus’ family – that he is the son of Joseph. They consider this to be proof that he did not come down from heaven. But Jesus knows that they are murmuring, and rebukes them.
Jesus is calling the people to believe in him, but he also says “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him.” Therefore, if we believe in Christ, our faith is a gift from God — not a result of our own virtue.
Jesus then cites Isaiah 54:13: “They shall all be taught by God.” This prophecy reminds the Jewish crowd that they must listen closely to God’s word — because God made a covenant with them, making them his people. Here Jesus insists that God is teaching them something new — “Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me.” Jesus is presenting himself as fully representing God the Father. Jesus refers to himself as “the one who is from God” — who “has seen the Father.” Thus Jesus insists that he is speaking with the authority of God the Father. The people can either accept or reject Jesus’ claim. Shortly later, most of them will reject it.
Next, Jesus begins: “Amen, amen...” With this phrase, Jesus strongly emphasizes the truth of what he is saying: “whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life.” Jesus says this with the utmost emphasis and seriousness. Jesus insists that this is the only way to live forever with God. Jesus then points forward to his crucifixion by saying: “the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” Thus “the bread of life” – which is Jesus’ flesh – is the same body of Christ which was crucified and rose from the dead.