Path To Sunday

Even when Christians, including Catholics, think about death, they usually wind up actually believing different things. Many assume that immediate entry into heaven is the default outcome, relying on popular perceptions or selective interpretations of Scripture. Yet, Jesus offers a more nuanced perspective: “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it.” This teaching underscores a crucial point: salvation is not merely a matter of avoiding the worst moral pitfalls but involves a profound transformation of life aligned with Christ’s teachings.

To understand this better, imagine standing before God at the end of your life and asking to enter heaven. If God were to question why you should be admitted, citing that you’re “not as bad” as notorious historical figures, such as Adolph Hitler, or professing a general love of humanity without a clear life of doing good to and for others, might not be convincing. Genuine love for God must be reflected in daily actions and choices, not just verbal affirmations.

What is our speech impediment? How are we deaf? In Sunday’s Gospel reading, Jesus miraculously cures a deaf man with a speech impediment. While it was a physical cure, it points to something deeper in each one of us: that we often fail to hear God speaking to us,  and we often fail to share his Word with our family, friends, and coworkers.

When an adult is going to be baptized into the Church, there are options to sign that person’s senses with the cross. This would occur during the Rite of Acceptance in the Order of Catechumens. The cross is traced on the person’s ears, eyes, lips, hands, forehead, heart, shoulders and feet. The idea is this: sin has closed us off, even in our senses, to God. Christ renews and recreates our sense to hear, sense, and speak of our Heavenly Father.

This Sunday, Jesus challenges us, saying that what defiles us comes from within, from our heart: “From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.” This can be especially challenging as our culture today celebrates unchastity, greed, blasphemy and arrogance.

It helpful to know that in first century Jewish anthropology, a human thinks with his heart and feels with his guts. The concept of thinking with your brain and feeling with your heart is more of a Greek concept. In a way, the Jewish understanding makes sense: the heart is the center of the person, and if you are upset or having other strong emotions, you will feel it in your digestive track.

Jesus is challenging the way we think. To what or to whom are we conforming our minds? Jesus or the prevailing culture?

In today’s Gospel reading from John 6:60-69, we encounter a moment of profound challenge and commitment. Jesus speaks of the difficulty of His teachings, and many of His followers struggle to accept them. In response, Peter declares, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” This passage highlights the demanding nature of true discipleship and the necessity of a disciplined faith.

Just as athletes achieve greatness through rigorous training and unwavering dedication, our spiritual journey requires similar discipline. It is not enough to merely show up at Mass or perform daily prayers; true discipleship calls for a deep, transformative commitment to our relationship with Jesus.

Jesus’ teaching about the narrow gate reminds us that entering heaven is not automatic but demands effort and perseverance.

Unliked many Protestant churches, we Catholics “always have communion.” Mass is offered every day, because it is essential to our faith. For humans, eating is more than sustenance; it’s a vehicle for love and friendship. Meals hold deep significance as forms of love, as seen in family gatherings and Jesus’ table fellowship. Moreover, when we eat, the food becomes part of us. The connection between food and love can especially be seen in marriage. When a man and woman desire to be permanently united, they marry. That loving union is expressed very specially in the consummation of the marriage.

Throughout the New Testament, heaven is described as a marriage feast, symbolizing the union of God and man in Jesus Christ. Jesus, the bridegroom, invites the Church, His bride, to this eternal feast. We reach heaven by partaking in the Eucharist.

Consider the event where Jesus fed 5000 people with just five loaves and two fish, which sets the stage for the Bread of Life discourse. This miracle revealed that many saw Jesus as a provider of physical sustenance, but they missed recognizing him as the Messiah and understanding his deeper message.

And so Jesus, explains; he preaches, urging us to seek eternal nourishment rather than just the perishable food of this world. By declaring himself the Bread of Life, he invites us to believe in him for true spiritual satisfaction. This is not about material blessings but about a complete commitment to Jesus and his teachings.

Today, we explore a significant event from the Gospel of John: the miraculous feeding of the 5000. At first glance, it’s a story of Jesus multiplying loaves and fish to feed a hungry crowd—an extraordinary display of his power. But as we dig deeper, we uncover layers of profound meaning that resonate with our faith today.

Imagine being among the crowd that day, witnessing Jesus take five loaves and two fish, give thanks, and miraculously provide for thousands. This act wasn’t just about satisfying physical hunger; it was a prelude to something greater—the institution of the Eucharist. By giving thanks (from the Greek eucharistein), Jesus foreshadowed the sacrament that would sustain his followers throughout history.

The twelve baskets of leftovers signify God’s abundant grace and the unity of his Church.

Reflecting on Psalm 23, we see our relationship with God as our shepherd, providing all we need, leading us to verdant pastures and restful waters, and refreshing our souls. This imagery highlights our dual nature: like sheep, we can be both foolish and wise in our spiritual journey.

Often, we place ourselves in danger by seeking worldly distractions over spiritual nourishment. Just as sheep might stand in fast-moving waters or chase after grain meant for steers, we might indulge in sinful behavior or presume an easy path to heaven, reflecting our spiritual foolishness.

Yet, Psalm 23 reassures us that even in dark valleys, we need not fear, for the Lord is at our side, guiding us with His rod and staff.

In Mark 6:7-13, Jesus sends out the Twelve, instructing them to rely on God’s providence as they engage in discipleship and evangelism. This gospel reflects the broader theme of God’s eternal plan and our role in it. While the Catholic Church is known for its doctrines, people often don’t realize that the doctrines provide boundaries to a field of faith, where a believer has room to run. For instance, the Assumption of Mary allows interpretations of whether she was taken up body and soul before or after death, symbolizing trust in God’s plan beyond our understanding. Yet the point is still the same: Christ’s victory over the power of sin and death that he extends to his Immaculately conceived human mother.