1. Welcome to our Bible Study 20 th Sunday in the Ordinary Time B August 16, 2009 In preparation for this Sunday’s liturgy In aid of focusing our homilies and sharing Prepared by Fr. Cielo R. Almazan, OFM

2. 1 st reading: Proverbs 9,1-6 1 Wisdom has built her house, she has set up her seven columns; 2 She has dressed her meat, mixed her wine, yes, she has spread her table. 3 She has sent out her maidens; she calls from the heights out over the city: 4 "Let whoever is simple turn in here; to him who lacks understanding, I say, 5 Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed! 6 Forsake foolishness that you may live; advance in the way of understanding.

3. 1 st reading: Proverbs 9,1-6 1 Wisdom has built her house, she has set up her seven columns; 2 She has dressed her meat, mixed her wine, yes, she has spread her table. 3 She has sent out her maidens; she calls from the heights out over the city: 4 "Let whoever is simple turn in here; to him who lacks understanding, I say, 5 Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed! 6 Forsake foolishness that you may live; advance in the way of understanding. The focus is on eating the food and drinking the wine offered by the wise man.

4. 1 st reading: Proverbs 9,1-6 1 Wisdom has built her house, she has set up her seven columns; 2 She has dressed her meat, mixed her wine, yes, she has spread her table. 3 She has sent out her maidens; she calls from the heights out over the city: 4 "Let whoever is simple turn in here; to him who lacks understanding, I say, 5 Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed! 6 Forsake foolishness that you may live; advance in the way of understanding. Commentary In v.1, wisdom is portrayed as a person, a builder of a house, a beautiful house, an impressive house. In v.2, wisdom personified as a woman has prepared good food for a big banquet. In v.3, wisdom is described as having maidens to invite all city-dwellers. In v.4, wisdom qualifies who should participate in the banquet: only the simple and those lacking in understanding (or wisdom) V.5 is the content of the invitation. It repeats v.2. In v.6, wisdom exhorts the listeners (those invited) to stop foolishness (acting foolishly or thinking superficially). In V.6, wisdom exhorts the listeners to be wise … to dig deeper… to go deeper, and not be contented with superficialities.

5. Reflections on the 1 st reading There is wisdom in accepting an invitation to partake in a meal. It increases wisdom. The one inviting is not just an accomplished person, who can build a good house and prepare a good food. Entering into the world of God who is wise and partaking of his banquet makes us wise. When we become wise, we understand more, we search for a more deep meaning of life, thence, our life becomes more meaningful.

6. Responsorial Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. 2 I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. 3 Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad. 4 Glorify the LORD with me, let us together extol his name. 5 I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. 6 Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. 7 When the poor one called out, the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him.

7. Responsorial Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord. 2 I will bless the LORD at all times; his praise shall be ever in my mouth. 3 Let my soul glory in the LORD; the lowly will hear me and be glad. 4 Glorify the LORD with me, let us together extol his name. 5 I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. 6 Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. 7 When the poor one called out, the LORD heard, and from all his distress he saved him. Commentary In vv.2-3, the psalmist promises to bless, praise and glorify the Lord. This is how he makes the lowly (the humble) rejoice. In v.4, the psalmist invites people to praise God with him. In v.5, he explains why they should praise God with him. The psalmist has experienced the saving power of God. V.6 exhorts the listeners to search for God in order to be happy. In v.7, the psalmist acknowledges the power of the prayer of the poor. The Lord hears it and he saves him from destruction.

8. Reflections on the Psalm The psalm picks up the spirit of the first reading. It invites us to celebrate with the person who has experienced being saved. Those who realize that God saves them invite other people to rejoice with them. Rejoicing is done in the context of a liturgy, in an organized celebration of God’s goodness and love.

9. 2 nd reading: Ephesians 5,15-20 15 Watch carefully then how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, 16 making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord. 18 And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another (in) psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts, 20 giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.

10. 2 nd reading: Ephesians 5,15-20 15 Watch carefully then how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, 16 making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord. 18 And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another (in) psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts, 20 giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. The focus is on living as WISE.

11. 2 nd reading: Ephesians 5,15-20 15 Watch carefully then how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, 16 making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord. 18 And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another (in) psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts, 20 giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father. Commentary: In v. 15, the author (Paul!) exhorts Christians to live as wise people. V.16 teaches how to live wisely.  Make the most of the opportunity. (Keep doing good at all times).  Never waste anytime idly. In v.17, the author continues his teaching.  Understand the will of God. Don’t be ignorant of it.  Be filled with the holy Spirit, not wine. V.18  Singing songs to one another and playing to the Lord. V.19  Giving thanks to the Lord. V.20

12. Reflections on the 2 nd reading Christians should be wise. Christian wisdom constitutes in knowing the will of God and doing good to others and to God. Wise Christians live positively. They waste no time in idle talks. They are hard working. You cannot have wisdom if you are intoxicated with strong drinks, power, money and prestige.

13. Gospel: John 6,51-58 51 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." 52 The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us (his) flesh to eat?" 53 Jesus said to them, "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. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever."

14. Gospel: John 6,51-58 Jesus the living bread 51 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." Jews’ reaction 52The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us (his) flesh to eat?" Life in Jesus by eating him 53 Jesus said to them, "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. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.  55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever." The focus is on feeding on Jesus. Just a simple outline.

15. Gospel: John 6,51-58 Jesus the living bread 51 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." Jews’ reaction 52 The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us (his) flesh to eat?" Life in Jesus by eating him 53 Jesus said to them, "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. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.  55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever." The underlined words indicate what happens to those who eat him.

16. Gospel: John 6,51-58 Jesus the living bread 51 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." 52 Jews’ reaction The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us (his) flesh to eat?" Life in Jesus by eating him 53 Jesus said to them, "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. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.  55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. 57 Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever." Commentary The reading is a continuation of the past Sunday’s readings re the Discourse on the Eucharist (6,22-71). In v.51, Jesus identifies himself as the living bread from heaven, not just an ordinary bread. In v.51b, Jesus assures of eternal life those who take him. V.52 describes the reaction of the Jews. They argue with one another. They object to the claim of Jesus. In v.53, Jesus reiterates the necessity of feeding on him to have life. V.54 repeats v.51b which assures eternal life and adds another benefit, resurrection on the last day. V.55 guarantees his flesh and blood as the true food, not fake, not a useless or fancy food. In v.56, taking him means remaining in him. It also means Jesus remaining in the person taking him. In v.57, Jesus assures life to those who feed on him. The life that is promised is the same life assured of Jesus when he obeys the Father. V.58 repeats v.51: the bread comes from heaven, not from somewhere else. It is different from the manna in the desert. Their ancestors who consumed it died. Those who eat Jesus will not die.

17. Reflections on the gospel reading The message of Jesus on taking his body and blood is clear. By all means, we must receive him to have life. We must stop philosophizing or arguing, because this is a matter of faith. All that Jesus demands of us is obedience. Simply, we partake of the eucharist with faith and devotion.

18. Tying the three readings and psalm The first two readings talk about wisdom, while the gospel reading talks about the eucharist. We have a problem here. Maybe we can solve it by looking at wisdom through the eucharist or vice versa. It is a wise move to participate in the eucharist. In the eucharist, there is wisdom. The psalm acknowledges God as the source of spiritual food and wisdom.

19. How to develop your homily / sharing Maybe, you should focus on wisdom, since we have been focusing on the eucharist for the past Sundays. Pick it (eucharist) up later before you end the homily. Discuss wisdom according to your mind. Start from your experience. (You become wise after committing a mistake, or, after making a wrong decision which has devastating effects, or, when you are reprimanded or scolded in public.) Share what happened when you insisted / imposed your ideas or opinions, “your little learning or incomplete data,” on other people. Share also what you learned from your mistakes. (Now you probably have more money, friends, etc. You are more happy now, more at peace with yourself and your God. And people appreciate you better, in your attitude, behavior, and performance.)

20. Based on the first reading, we become wise when we share in the life of God. God is always inviting us to partake of his meal and to dwell in his house. To become wise, we must be open to his invitations and share life in his presence. God exhorts us to stop thinking or acting foolishly or mindlessly. He wants us to live meaningful lives.

21. The responsorial psalm is an invitation to all of us to rejoice and bless the Lord. As a group, we recognize God’s goodness and providence. It is wise to join in meaningful liturgical celebrations.

22. The second reading is an invitation to live as wise persons, not as foolish ones. There are external manifestations when we are acting wisely or foolishly. When we waste no time doing nothing, we are wise. When we are busy serving the needs of others, we are wise. There is no wisdom in engaging in empty talks and useless projects.

23. The gospel reading is an invitation to eat the food offered by Christ. It is wise to participate in the eucharistic meals of the Church. Jesus promises life eternal to people who respond to his invitation. We should be humble enough to admit that we cannot attain salvation without being nurtured by Jesus. In the gospel, Jesus is emphatic on receiving him. The wise Christian should think that there is no better way to be closer to Christ than what Jesus himself teaches.

24. It is wise to receive the holy eucharist. The eucharist is the sacrament of solemn encounter between God and us. In the eucharist, Jesus infuses wisdom on us. This wisdom brings us to eternal life.

25. Our Context Unwise decisions Bad moves Hasty decisions Too much risk taking Gambling mentality Fatalism Intoxication Indecisive Making important decision when emotionally disturbed Wise decisions Discernment Doing homework well Taking time in weighing all sides Good judgment Has spiritual values

26. Suggested songs The Blessed Sacrament by Sebastian Temple