WORD ALIVE
FR. BEL SAN LUIS, SVD
When Hidilyn Diaz received the gold medal, she held it on her right hand and the Miraculous Medal on her left. Very inspiring! She wanted to tell the whole world that her success did not come from her talent, diligence and sacrifices alone but also from the help and blessing of God and Mama Mary!
Let’s emulate Hidilyn’s Christian attitude to achieve success in all our endeavors.
“What you are is God’s gift to you; what you become is your gift to God.”
Bread of life
No doubt, the Lord was concerned for our basic needs. In last Sunday’s gospel, he showed this when he multiplied the meager bread and fishes for the hungry crowd.
But today’s Gospel, he prescribes a spiritual food, a food for our soul, a food that will last forever. Jesus decided to dwell inside the bread of the Eucharist with all his power to become the nourishment of our souls.
At the Last Supper, he reaffirmed before he suffered and died that he was the food and drink for eternal life. “Take and eat and drink my blood. Do this in memory of Me.”
Christ says: “I am the bread of life…He who comes to me will never be hungry; he who believes in Me will never be thirsty.”
Giving his body and blood as food and drink is hard to understand. When Jesus told the Jews who were following him about this, they were shocked and skeptical. How can we eat his flesh and drink his blood? That’s cannibalism! After that, many grumbled and turned their backs on him.
Seeing this, he looked at his disciples and said, “Do you also want to go?” Jesus told them. Peter volunteered this response, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life and we have come to believe that You are the Son of God” (Jn 6,70).
Indeed, faith in the Eucharist is hard to fathom. But let’s remember, God is not a liar or one who fools us. He always wants the best for us.
Jesus further said, “He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood will have eternal life and I will raise him up on the last day.”
There are those who are afraid of death. I remember the lady who said, “I’ll never ride in an airplane. I’m afraid.” The daughter replied, “Mama, if it’s your time to die, you can’t help it. You cannot do anything. Kahit kung nasa barko ka o nasa bus ka, kung oras mo na, walang magagawa!” She pondered for a while and said, “You have a point there, but what if I am in the plane and it’s the time for the pilot to go! What then?”
Knowing that anyone can die anytime, anywhere, we should be prepared at all times. We should follow what he said to us: receive his body and blood in Holy Communion which are in the form of bread and wine.
Obviously, there are other requirements Jesus taught us, that is, live a morally upright life and do works of mercy and charity.
The lighter side. Priest tells Johnny who's not been attending Sunday Mass, “How about joining the Army of God in church on Sundays?” Johnny replies, “Ok Father, I promise to join.”
After the succeeding Sundays and the priest didn't see Johnny in church, he asked him: “Why didn't I see you in church among the Army of God as you promised?” His reply: “Father, I'm in the secret service.” (God doesn’t need ‘secret services’ in church).
After winning the gold medal, somebody quipped our heroine Hidilyn who belongs to the Philippine Air Force, should now be called, “CAPTAIN BARBELL”!
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