20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Homily for 20 August 2006
Fr. Bob Scanlan

My father lived to a very healthy 98. My mother lived an equally healthy 88. There were 8 years difference in their age with dad being born in 1899 and mom in 1907. I remember going to the local “fruit and vegetable market” with them and buying “home grown” tomatoes, corn, peaches, and melons. Just the smell of those items filled my nostrils with the odor of rich food. It is this time of year when all the crops are coming in. Taste the fresh tomatoes and melons.

Today, I am not sure what to eat or drink. Just when I think I have it all figured out there appears another article speaking of the dangers of a certain food; the processing; the way it is packaged; or what we now call the “shelf life” of a food. Mom and Dad did not have concerns about “shelf life” of their naturally grown foods. From time to time I remark to Jean, “How did dad make it to 98” Jean usually responds, “They did not have all the pollution, pesticides, and chemically treated food that we have today.” Of course Jean is usually right!

Our scripture readings for today speak to us also of food and drink from another era and time whose “shelf life” is forever. The reading from Proverbs tells of the personified Wisdom who has created a banquet and has this invitation, “Let whoever is simple turn in here, and come eat of my food and drink of the wine I have mixed.” The older I get the more simple I have become. What I thought I NEEDED in the past now is not needed at all. Things of prior importance seem to be fading like the distant hills in the rear view mirror of my car. Wisdom encourages us to be simple and to eat and drink of the food prepared for us. As the scripture encourages us, “Forsake foolishness and live: advance in the way of understanding”. Where is the “foolishness” in your life? How much time do you spend worrying about things which really don’t matter at all?

This reading from Proverbs seems to be the perfect prelude to our Gospel passage from John. I am sure you have heard the basic statement from dieticians, and doctors alike, “You are what you eat.” Jesus is speaking to the crowds who were looking for answers in their life as we are today. What do I do, who do I follow, what do I believe, what is important in life? Perhaps there are other questions on our minds also.

To answer their questions and perhaps our questions Jesus very simply says, “I am the living bread come down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever…” Of course this message was so very simple that it confounded the leaders of the time. The message of Jesus also confounds the church leaders of our time. It was said then and it is said now---“How can he do this? Who does he think he is?” I have always found it amusing that Jesus puts no restrictions on who can and who can not (as we would say today—receive communion).

We hear even today the powers that be (some of the current day Pharisees) grumbling, “The ordination in that church is not valid”. “Those people do not follow the rules laid down”. “They are not in unity with Rome”. “They allow even the divorced and remarried to receive communion”. “They allow people of various life styles to receive communion.”

Of course Jesus does not lay down any of these restrictions as He encouraged ALL---even going so far to say “UNLESS you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink of His blood, you will not have life within you.” Who gives anyone the authority to make the mandates of Jesus something He did not intend Himself? Why do some feel restricting access to Eucharist (communion) is of any value at all to anyone; except the Pharisees who need to control other people’s lives.

It will be our faith in Jesus that will provide us the nourishment we need. It is in partaking of the bread and wine which is the body and blood of Jesus which will make us strong. It is in accepting all to the table set from ages past to today that we will reach out to all. It is in receiving Jesus into our life as the only food we need on our journey that will make us strong. It is in receiving Jesus as our strength and food of life that we truly live. Once again we hear from Proverbs—“forsake foolishness so you may live”.

It is in the “doing”—the actual “eating” and “drinking” that we are nourished. There is nothing I am capable of doing which would preclude the invitation of Jesus to eat His body and drink His blood. It is in this way that I will be nourished and truly live. At every Eucharist we hear once again the invitation—mandate—take and eat---take and drink.

At Jesus Our Shepherd, we always invite everyone to the table of Jesus. Jesus has invited everyone, can we do anything less? You are what you eat. You are--we are the body of Christ. Jesus is our food for our journey. You need nothing else. Come one and all to the table of plenty.