SAINT ATHANASIUS, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH (MEMORIAL)

You have the words of eternal life. 

Jesus had just given a long teaching about himself as the Bread of Life.   The Eucharistic meaning of those words remained hidden from many of his listeners, but it had a powerful hold on his disciples.   They knew that Jesus had the words of eternal life, so they stuck with him.   They trusted that he wouldn’t leave them in the dark.   And gradually, the Holy Spirit clarified what Jesus meant that day.

We can trust the Holy Spirit to do the same for us. Jesus’ words are life-giving, but they can still be puzzling.   But as we ask the Spirit to help us, they can start to make more sense.

For instance, Jesus says, “As the Father loves me, so I also love you” (John 15:9).   As that truth sinks into our hearts, we realize that it should affect the way we interact with everyone around us.   So how do we put flesh on it?   Over time, it dawns on us that Jesus loves our parents or neighbors, the homeless veteran on the corner, and the convicted criminal, just as deeply as he loves us.   Then we see that he is inviting us to extend his own love to them.

Jesus also says, “Your sins are forgiven” (Luke 7:48).   Every time we repent, he forgives us and makes it possible for us to start over again.   But Jesus also told us that his forgiveness is meant to be shared.   So how do we put flesh on that?   By returning to him again and again for the strength to forgive and learning how to release anyone who has wounded us.

Finally, Jesus says, “I am the bread of life” (John 6:35).   Through the gift of himself in the Eucharist, his presence can become so much a part of us that it flows out of us.   So how do we put flesh on that?   We become aware that every time we encounter other people, they are encountering Jesus—whether they realize it or not.

How blessed we are!   The words of Jesus have the power to change us and, through us, change our world.

“Come, Holy Spirit!   Teach me the meaning of Jesus’ words and help me to say yes to him today.”

Acts 9:31-42
Psalm 116:12-17