19th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2021

Most Reverend José H. Gomez
Archbishop of Los Angeles

Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels
August 8, 2021

My brothers and sisters in Christ, ¹

As we know, in these past Sundays during these past weeks, our readings are calling us to reflect on the deep meaning of the Eucharist.

And today, our Gospel reading continues with a passage from St. John’s Gospel about Jesus’ discourse in the synagogue at Capharnaum after he had multiplied the loaves for the 5,000 people.

Jesus today makes us a beautiful promise. He tells us:

“I am the bread of life … the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”

My brothers and sisters, this is the amazing truth! Jesus came down from heaven for us!

So I think it makes sense that, I think, maybe every three years the Church wants us to reflect on the Eucharist for three or four consecutive weeks. So, it makes sense that today we continue our reflection on the great treasure that we have in the Holy Eucharist.

The Eucharist is not a “remembrance of things past.” It is a living sign of God’s love in the present, his desire to walk with us on the journey of our lives. At the same time, it is a pledge and a bridge to the future.

In the first reading we had that powerful story of the prophet Elijah, who has come to a crossroads in his life. And this story reminds us that God is traveling with us, even when we cannot see him or feel his presence in our lives. Even when we get discouraged and we are having some challenging times. He’s there for us.

We can never forget that. It’s so important.

And we see that in the first reading of today’s Mass. That God never gives up on us — even if sometimes we are tempted to give up on ourselves. God’s love never stops.

He keeps coming to serve us and to feed us. As we just heard, he sends his angel to Elijah and the angel brings food and water and tells him: “Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you!” 

And then as we just heard, he did that. He got up and ate and then he walked for 40 days and 40 nights. Not bad.

So my brothers and sisters, Jesus makes that invitation to us in every Eucharist. In every Eucharist, he comes to be our food and drink for the journey.

Every Sunday, Jesus brings us living bread from heaven. His own Body, his own Blood, truly present in the bread and wine at the altar.

But, we know, sometimes, even when we are at Mass, our hearts are confused maybe, our minds start to wander. We have worries and concerns that are pressing in on us. Like Elijah, we are not aware of God’s presence.

So maybe today we can think of a few practical things — there are many things we can do — in order to prepare ourselves better to feel the presence of God during the celebration of Holy Mass.

Maybe a couple things that can be useful for all of us.

First, maybe we can prepare better for Mass. Maybe try to get here a little earlier so that we have time to recollect ourselves, to pray.

During Mass, when we hear the readings, also when we are on our knees for the Eucharistic prayer, maybe we can ask Jesus to make is presence known to us. Maybe just saying a prayer, some words like: “Lord, I believe you are here, help me to know it and to open my heart to you.”

Whatever it is that we can do to feel more present at the celebration of the Eucharist.

And obviously in every Mass, we can just lay everything on the altar! Offer all your cares and desires to Jesus, who loves us and comes to be with us. Giving ourselves to him, as he gives himself to each one of us.

Then, beautiful advice from St. Edith Stein. I’ve been thinking about it because tomorrow, August 9th is her feast day. St. Theresa Benedicta of the Cross — that was her Carmelite religious name.

And as we probably know, she was one of the smartest women in all of Europe. She was a brilliant philosopher, a loving daughter, and a holy person. She lived for Jesus, lived to spread his love. And she died for Jesus too. 

She died in the concentration camp in Auschwitz in 1942.

Extraordinary woman.

So she used to say: “I draw courage constantly from the Tabernacle, from the Eucharist.” ²

Why did she say that?

Again my brothers and sisters, because Jesus is here, he is really with us. He is here on the altar in every Mass. He is in the Tabernacles in our parishes, in our Churches. He is still giving his Body and Blood for the life of the world.

So we can also draw courage constantly from the Eucharist, from the Tabernacle.

And if Jesus is here and with us, how can we ever be afraid? If God is with us, who can be against us? His love is stronger than death.

And then finally, as we all know, our Catholic faith is a promise that this world is not all there is. It is a promise that our earthly lives are just a moment in eternity, this world is just a place we are passing through.

And Jesus tells us today: “Whoever eats this bread will live forever.” My brothers and sisters, let us ask for the grace today to believe and to live it.

We are made in God’s image. And St. Paul tells us in today’s second reading that we need to “imitate” God. We need to live like Jesus, to make our lives like the Eucharist.

So as Jesus gives himself to us, we need to give ourselves for others. That’s what love looks like — living for others and not for ourselves.

So my brothers and sisters, let us get up and eat, as the angel told Elijah. Let us live by the bread that comes from heaven, as Jesus tells us today.

And this week, in our daily lives, let us try to imitate God more and more, and to love and to nourish others, just as Our Lord loves and nourishes us in the Holy Eucharist.

And let us ask Mary our Blessed Mother, our Lady of the Angels, to guide so that we can recognize Jesus — that Jesus is our companion on this journey of life and that he wants to be the bread that gives us life.

1. Readings: 1 Kings 19:4-8; Ps. 34:2-9; Eph. 4:30-5:2; John 6:41-51.

2.  Letter 217.