20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B. By Tobe Eze

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B.

FIRST READING
Proverbs 9:1—6

SECOND READING
Ephesians 5:15—20

GOSPEL
John 6:51—58

THEME: JESUS IS THE ONLY WAY.

Sometimes I ask myself, what is wisdom? You will see this person behaving in this way and you will say this person is wise. Tomorrow you will see him/her doing another thing altogether and you will become confused. Even Solomon that asked for wisdom latter misbehaved that people especially my own self became confused whether he received the wisdom at all. Going through the scriptures, one will find out that the only man that lived his life without fault from him rather people imposed fault on him is Jesus Christ. From this we can go down to the readings. Continue Reading.............................

Wisdom has made herself a home. She has prepared everything she needed. Jesus prepared everything for us, we are just to come and enjoy what he has prepared for us. We do not need to contribute much, it is just our proper disposition that is needed. And what is this proper disposition?

The second reading has the answer to the question. 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 the will of the Lord is. We must live according to the mind of Christ who has redeemed us with his blood. We should not live like people still under darkness, we have been brought into light by the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the way, the truth and the life. Let us go to him, how?

The gospel started with this, 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." As Catholics, we believe in the Holy Eucharist. We then therefore should ever be ready to receive Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. 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". He is the living bread that came down from heaven. St. Paul tells us that some eat the bread and get life while some eat and get death (1 Corinthians 11:26). Which one do you get when you receive him? After preaching in a gathering one day, talking much on the danger of receiving the Holy Eucharist when you are not in the state of grace, a man met me and said, Onwere ka odi ma oburu n’igaghi nata oriri. O ga adi ka obu njo nke gi kacha. Ndi mmadu ana ele gi anya ka onye aruru ala. These are some of the things that lead many to eternal damnation. What will people say if I don’t go out to receive the communion when you know you are not worthy? What will people say if I leave this my evil act or position? Existentialist philosophers talked more on individual life, and that is the reality of life. Death is a personal issue, Salvation is also a personal issue. Why then do we live our lives in pleasing others and displeasing God when we know that both death and salvation are personal issues? We should always look for what pleases God and not evil human beings. We can please God through our fellow human beings but through the good ones not evil ones. Some friends can be bad that they will always lead us to destruction but we will claim ignorance of it, till it becomes too late and we will start to complain.

Why not follow Jesus today who is the only perfect wisdom that leads to Salvation. He is the living bread that came down from heaven and he is the food for all who love him. This food gives us life (for he is life), this life makes us to follow the right path (for he is the way) and we will be faultless (for he is the truth). Jesus is the best. THANKS AND HAPPY SUNDAY.