YEAR B: HOMILY FOR THE 21ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (5)

YEAR B: HOMILY FOR THE 21ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

HOMILY THEME: TO WHOM SHALL WE GO?

BY: Fr. BennyTuazon

HOMILY:

(Jn. 6:60-69) Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

In todays’ Gospel, the Twenty First Sunday In Ordinary Time, Jesus responds to the disciples’ confusion, question, and awe in His teachings on the Bread of Life. They admitted that it was hard to accept. Jesus agreed and He even told them more about Himself and what are to happen. In the end, He assured them that His Father will help them understand.

Unfortunately, some have had enough of Jesus’ teachings and decided to leave. Jesus then confronted the twelve and asked them if they will also leave Him. Peter professed, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” The First Reading relates the same story. Due to the growing waning of faith in the Lord and succumbing to the seemingly powerful god of the Amorites, Joshua gathered all the leaders of the tribes of Israel and made a loyalty check. The answer of the leaders was classic:

“Far be it from us to forsake the LORD for the service of other gods.

For it was the LORD, our God, who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, out of a state of slavery.

He performed those great miracles before our very eyes and protected us along our entire journey and among the peoples through whom we passed. Therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.”

With regards to faith, we are limited. We are really dependent on God. Jesus assures us that we will not be abandoned. The Spirit will be there to enlighten us. If we maintain our faith, everything will be provided us by the Father so we can cope with the demands of faith. I have witnessed to this a lot of times, Preaching is not an easy thing to do. I tremble with the idea that I am tasked and entrusted with the Word of God. Yet, I always find the right words to say. Even and specially when the Word of God seems difficult, wisdom from the Spirit would always come upon me and the faithful. The response of Peter was also an expression of faith. In truth, there are a lot to turn to. But Peter knew that only Jesus could satisfy their longings. The teachings and miracles of Jesus testify to it. Jesus was their enough.

Today, more and more, Jesus has been proven to be right. The world had tried almost everything from money, power, war, science, politics, philosophy, “isms”, etc., in order to address the worlds’ concern. Yet, peace, for example, had been very illusive. In spite of the supposed modernity and successes in technology, the world, though had attained so much progress, is still beset with old concerns like war, sickness, crimes, and disagreements. Those who had discovered Jesus are exceptions. They have found the peace they need, and much more. Turn to Jesus. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life.