An invitation to a life of grace
Aug. 18, 2024—20th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Proverbs 9: 1-6; Psalm 34, R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.; Ephesians 5:15-20; Gospel – John 6: 51-58
Across cultures and eras, the sharing of a meal is one of the most intimate moments between two parties. This is the context of Jesus’ invitation for us to eat his body and drink his blood.
This an invitation to a life of grace. This grace is always available, but we must open our life to it for it to have a transforming effect in our life.
This is the grace we welcome into our life in our celebration of the Eucharist.
Entering this Eucharistic relationship with the Lord is the grace of the Mass, with the four grace-filled moments we pray at every moment of consecration: “…he took bread and, giving thanks, broke it, and gave it to his disciples…”
The celebration of the Eucharist allows us to gather our dreams and hopes. In her book, “Big Questions, Worthy Dreams,” Sharon Daloz Parks beautifully describes the Mass as a time for young people to “nurture spiritual growth and foster a sense of belonging and purpose.”
This is the “taking of bread” when we take stock of our life, and realizing the gracious presence of God lovingly accompanying us, our hearts are filled with gratitude.
It is this grace of gratitude that moves us to offer ourselves in loving service, “broke… and gave.”
It is the sacrament that makes us followers of Jesus in his loving obedience to the will of the Father, leading to his perfect sacrifice on the Cross and the grace of the Resurrection. This is the only path to eternal life.
This is the amazing grace that comes to us through the Mass. It is a grace always available.
