19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Word of the Lord is spirit and life. It is spoken with sincere love and concern for our lives. Through His Word, God calls us to be holy as He is holy. Through His Word, God forms us to be His people. Through His Word, He strengthens us. We must be open to listen to His Word and to accept it into our hearts. In doing so, we receive the blessings that strengthen us to fulfill its commands and teachings in our daily lives. As God’s Word takes root in our daily lives, we manifest the presence of God to the world. This Living Word of God leads to eternal life.

Jesus, the “Living Word of God” incarnate, came as Bread from Heaven so as to nourish and strengthen people unto eternal life. Just as God fed the Israelite people in the desert during the Exodus with bread from Heaven (manna), so too, Jesus came to strengthen all who will come to Him on their journey to the Kingdom of God. Jesus nourishes the people with His holy Word, which is clear instruction and encouragement from God. He uses the physical image of bread to speak of Himself so as to make it clear that His life feeds them. This image became a concrete reality at the Last Supper when Jesus took bread and wine and gave them to us as His Body and Blood in the Most Holy Eucharist.

There are times when the burdens and crosses of daily life seem to get too heavy for us. We can become discouraged, angry, and disillusioned. It is particularly at times such as these that we need the encouragement the Lord gives us through His holy Word, the Eucharist, and the life of the Holy Spirit within us. In His great love, God is always concerned about us. It is critical for us to receive the grace – the holy nourishment – that God offers us through His Word and His Sacraments. God’s grace sustains us in the difficult times, helps us to celebrate the good times with even greater joy, and ultimately brings us closer to Him.