August 18 – Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Understanding our Catholic faith and beliefs are important. In a world where there are countless beliefs, many that are contrary to our faith, it is important to study and learn our own faith. However, with the globalization of many cultures, some people will try to avoid conflict and take a universal approach by accepting all beliefs as “equal but different.” Or, in order to avoid conflict all together without rejecting their own beliefs, they will say, “I agree to disagree.”
I, however, would like challenge us with a simple fact: belief leads to action. This means that right beliefs leads to right action, and wrong belief leads to wrong action. Therefore, it is important to practice right beliefs. For example, if I don’t believe there is anything wrong with my weight or health when I’m overweight and out of shape, I won’t change my habits to correct it.
That’s why I’m grateful for not only these last few years of our Eucharistic revival in the Catholic Church in the U.S., but these last few weeks at Mass as we proclaimed the 6th chapter of the Gospel of John, also known as “The Bread of Life Discourse.” The Lord confirms what we truly believe as he states, “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.” Even as the Jews seem to quarrel, Jesus doubles down “Amen, Amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you.”
This belief should draw us to right action! It should stir up in us the desire to receive our Lord, to be with our Lord, and to encounter the depth of his love in the Eucharist. Recently, I was approached and asked the following question, “I am away from the Lord, but how can I grow in my relationship with Jesus?” My response was to seek out the Sacraments. We truly believe that God acts in them and that through them He encounters us. Seek out the Sacrament of Confession, the Anointing of the Sick, and never, I repeat never, separate yourself from the Eucharist! Do these simple things and you will never be far from the Lord. Even Jesus makes it clear, “For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” May we always be grateful to have received the great gift of the Catholic Faith, and these incredible truths that Jesus himself shares with us.
Father Michael