What must we do if we are to do the works that God wants?

Homily

18^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sunday 4^th August 2024

First reading	Exodus 16:2-4,12-15
Responsorial Psalm	Psalm 77(78):3-4,23-25,54
Second reading	Ephesians 4:17,20-24
Gospel	John 6:24-35

 

Last weekend, it was an experience to be down in the Carrickdale Hotel, near Jonesborough, to watch the All-Ireland Final. The fans were there early. They were hungry for success. It had been 22 years since Armagh had one.

As Armagh scored each point, the floorboards vibrated with the adulations and joy of fans jumping up and down in sheer delight.

It was close. Then Aaron McKay scored the goal for Armagh (Russel, 2024) (Mohan, 2024), the roar was mighty. It was still a tough game, and towards the end as the Armagh’s goalie kicked out three balls intercepted by Galway, everyone’s heart sank. After 6 minutes of injury time the whistle was blown, and Armagh was victorious by one point. All around me fans were jumping around ecstatic.

Another year over. And the journey begins, all over again next year, with all the counties chasing after the Sam McGuire Cup to be champions. All will be hungry for victory, but the memory of past victories will fade.

Like much in the world our appetite is never satisfied, our joys are only momentary. So much effort goes into preparing for these events. We are driven by the hope of success and the adulation. St Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians tells of many athletes racing for a prize, but only one wins it, a simple laurel, which quickly withers away (Paul., 2007).  He reminds us we are all in a race, but one where the prize will never wither away. He believed it was important to push himself hard, both physically and mentally so that he would not be disqualified (Paul., 2007). He knew he could still stumble.

In today’s second reading, Paul tells the Ephesians that we are not to lead aimless lives in the same way as the pagans. He urges us to listen to the truth that Jesus taught, which requires us to change our old selfish way, corrupted by our desires. If we follow what this world is selling, it will lead us nowhere. In fact, the truth be told, we can be led to despair because what this world offers can never satisfy the emptiness which often fills our hearts. We can find ourselves on a merry-go-round to be fulfilled by one ambition after another, trying to fix our lives and constantly struggling but never being satisfied. This is what Paul calls illusory desires.

For some, this could be chasing a dream to be famous as a singer, filmmaker, YouTube influencer or TIKTOK hit. Then to find that promoting yourself, there is a monster that can never be satisfied. It consumes your every moment to produce more and more content, chasing millions of viewers and subscribers but never gaining any financial reward.

Those who work in the film, games, and music industry are mostly overworked and underpaid. Even trying to get educated, now requires so much money, and once one qualification has been achieved, another is required, then another. My generation was encouraged to go to college to get degrees and higher national diplomas. I once got a job as a lecturer with a degree and postgraduate diploma, but then the goal posts changed and to teach in a university you needed a PhD.

A good second-hand car could last for years, but now we are being encouraged to consider electric cars, which cost twice as much money, struggles to cover the distances we often need to travel and may not last as long.

The world has got faster and wants us to change recent purchases, for something better, almost as soon as they arrive on our doorsteps. We are encouraged to be unsatisfied. Our cravings remain unfulfilled and empty, physically, mentally and spiritually.

In the book of Exodus, God provides everything that the Israelites needed. In the evenings, quails flew into the camps so they could eat meat, and in the morning, manna lay on the ground, bread sent from heaven. The Israelites could eat to their hearts content. In the same way, in last week’s Gospel, five thousand were fed until they were no longer hungry, and afterwards twelve hampers were filled from the scraps made from five barley loaves and two fish, given by a small boy.

In today’s Gospel the people chase after Jesus for more food to fill their bellies. Yet, they had not realised that they did not have to work for this food, because God would provide them abundantly with what they needed. All that was required of them was to believe in Jesus, who is the bread of life. He has promised that everyone who comes to him will never hunger and will never thirst. The crucial point is made in today’s Gospel Acclamation where Jesus says, “I am the Way, the truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through me. We are asked to put aside our old ways, our old pagan lives, which lead to corruption and to renew our minds through a spiritual revolution into a new self, created in God’s way.

Many people worry about how they will live and afford to get by. Yet, in my experience in life, our needs seem to be provided for, if we trust in Jesus. Doors will open, if we are open to receive with thanks.

Within the two weeks between the semi-final and Armagh winning the All-Ireland this year, a small group of people were inspired to produce over 80 sets of Rosary-beads to give to the team and to pray for them to win. Last Sunday their prayers were answered. The teams still need to practice, the same as we still need to practice our faith. Our prayers can open doors, especially if we no longer rely on ourselves to solve our worldly problems but hand them over to God and give him praise and thanks for helping us through.

The small boy gave his five loaves and two fish with thanks. It was a thanksgiving that fed over five thousand people and filled twelve baskets with the scraps. Today we are here to give thanks to Our Lord for giving himself to us. We call this Eucharist, which comes from the Greek word ‘eucharistia’, meaning thanksgiving and references the Jewish blessing said at mealtimes to give thanks to God (Kosloski, 2017). We are encouraged to thank God for allowing Our Lord Jesus Christ to be a sacrifice for our sins, so we can be redeemed. Let us thank God for giving us our daily bread and let us believe we can be champions in following God’s way.

Amen.

 

 

References

Byrnes, B. (2024, July 28). Homily notes: 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B. Retrieved from Australian Catholic Educational Hub: https://www.australiancatholics.com.au/homily-notes-18-sun-year-b-2024

Catholic, Y. (2024, August 4). 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B. Retrieved from Young Catholic: https://young-catholics.com/3353/18th-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-b/

Kosloski, P. (2017, November 18). What does the word “eucharist” mean? Retrieved from Aleteia: Spirituality: https://aleteia.org/2017/11/18/what-does-the-word-eucharist-mean

Mohan, D. (2024, July 28). Armagh win All-Ireland for first time in 22 years - as it happened. Retrieved from BBC Sport: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/ckkgz5wp0n3t#:~:text=The%20Orchard%20County%20will%20have,time%20and%20they%20stayed%20there.

Paul., S. (2007). 1 Corinthians 10:24-27. In C. T. Society, The CTS New Catholic Bible Standard Edition (p. 2252). London: Darton, Longman & Todd Ltd.

Russel, A. (2024, July 28). As it happened: Galway v Armagh, All-Ireland football final . Retrieved from Irish Examiner: https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41445361.html#:~:text=Drama%20right%20until%20the%20end,for%20just%20the%20second%20time.&text=75%20mins%20Galway%200%2D13,the%20post%20and%20goes%20wide.

Scanlon, J. (2012, August 5). Homily 18th Sunday Ordinary Time Year B - Spiritual Revolution. Retrieved from Reflections on Christian teaching and life in our parishes: https://www.deaconjohn.co.uk/2012/07/homily-18th-sunday-ordinary-time-year-b.html

Tunnicliff, J. S. (2021, August 1). 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B – Homily. Retrieved from Renewal of Faith: https://renewaloffaith.org/18th-sunday-in-ordinary-time-year-b-homily-3/

 

 

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