Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk
19th
Sunday of the Year, B – August 12, 2018.
Readings:
1 Kings 19:4-8;
Ps 34:2-3.4-5.6-7.8-9 (R.9a);
Ephesians
4:30-5:2; Gospel – John 6:41-51.
Theme:
Get Up & Eat!
Introduction
Beloved
in Christ, because of the centrality of the Holy Eucharist in the Catholic Church,
we are presented with yet another opportunity to reflect on the importance of
that sacrament in our lives and the life of the Christian community. The
physical nourishment that God provides Prophet Elijah with in the first reading
prepares us for the message of the gospel wherein Christ insists: “The bread
that I shall give is my flesh for the life of the world.” Our reflection
tilted, “Get Up And Eat” is predicated upon the crucial place of the Eucharist
in our lives as Christians and the hope which it offers namely, we shall wine
and dine with Christ in heaven. This reflection which begins with two stories
shall scan through the background and summary of the readings, pastoral
application and practical lessons as well as homiletic points to remember.
A Man & his Car and the Wedding
Banquette Narratives
I
bring you two stories I got from WhatsApp which I modified. Early this year, I
decided to service my car for enhanced performance at the following cost: Engine
oil N4,500; oil Filter N1,000; change of front wheel boris N25,000; four tyres
205/70 Rim 16@26,500: N106,000; wheel balancing and alignment: N3,500;
servicing and workmanship N10,000; ejector cleaner and fuel-preservator: N1,500
and full tank N13,500. The total cost
was N160,000. While I was brooding over what happened during the course of the
day, I thought about the sad news of the demise of three different Engineers in
their 40s and 50s who died in, January, April and July 2018 respectively. I
learnt that they complained of simple signs and symptoms which eventually led
to their untimely deaths.
I asked myself, how
much did I invest in my spiritual life? For
how long will I keep thinking all is well with my life when my spiritual life
is in jeopardy? I spend so much money on my car yet fail to invest in my
spiritual life. It was then it dawn on me that although I don’t need to pay
money to go for confession, I have not patronized that sacrament for many years
now. Although I spend money to change the vital parts of my car, attending Sunday
Mass and feeding my soul with the bread of life has not being of top priority
to me. In fact, sometimes, I defy the fact that failing to attend Mass without
a cogent reason amounts to mortal sin by going for sports or attending our
tribal meeting with no remorse.
What is more, I asked
myself when last I did a comprehensive spiritual check-up in terms of assessing
how I have forgiven those who have wronged me or how many times I have read the
bible and engaged in both mental and vocal prayer. I told myself, Mr. Man,
check your heart, eyes, ears, hands and legs to see if they glorify God. I
thought of how many times I ensured my car was in order so as to drove through rough
roads yet fail to empower myself spiritually to fight the battle against the devil.
The last question that came to my mind was, “your vehicle or your spiritual
life?” If my car could gulp over #160,000 in an instance just for fine tuning, I
think I deserve to diagnose and upgrade my system spiritually otherwise if I
die prematurely today like the three people I earlier mentioned, where will I
spend eternity?
In a related development, I attended a wedding
ceremony which had about 30 people in attendance. I sat in the front seat. A Lady
started distributing food. She started from the back row. Unfortunately, it did
not get to those of us who were sitting at the front row. Another Lady started
sharing the drinks. She started from the front. But unfortunately, I had
already moved to sit at the back. Again, the drink did not get to me. I was so
furious that I stood up to take my leave but then, I saw three ladies
approaching us, each with a big bowl. This time around, I tried to be smart. I
sat right at the middle. One of the Ladies started the sharing from the front;
the second Lady started distributing from the back. The two Ladies were sharing
roasted chicken. When they got to the middle where I was seated, it got
finished again. Feeling so frustrated, I bent my head, putting my face in my hands...
but then, the third Lady tapped me and stretched her bowl for me to pick. Joyfully,
I stretched and put my hands inside the bowl...guess what was in the bowl?
Toothpicks! We shall return to the moral of these two stories soon.
Background & Summary of the
Readings
The first reading (1 Kings 19:4-8)
recalls how the Prophet Elijah was frustrated in the wilderness while on his
way to Horeb, the mountain of the Lord and attempted to kill himself. However,
after he fell asleep, the angel of the Lord supplied scone (food) and water
with the instruction: “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too long for
you.” He obliged the Lord and strengthened by that food, we are told he walked
forty days and forty nights to the mountain of the Lord.
