Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
"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" (Jn. 6:51-58).
Today's gospel reading contains a powerful and fortuitous message. It is fortuitous that my first blog for “Eat the Scroll” involves, well, eating. It is also powerful because the imagery conveyed in this passage reminds me of many things, most notably my Catholicism and my work as an environmental science teacher.
“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.”
The whole thought of eating someone’s flesh and drinking their blood can sound a bit unnerving, to say the least. However, we know that this has a deeper and more substantial meaning. Let’s unpack this. As a Catholic, I am fully aware that every time I go to Mass, listen to the Gospel proclaimed and further explored by the homily, and participate in the order of service, I have the opportunity to receive the sacrament of Holy Communion through the Eucharist. Every Sunday (or Saturday for the Vigil), I get the chance to eat the flesh and drink Christ's blood through transubstantiation. What does it truly mean that doing this gives us everlasting life? If one examines the word “eat,” a common synonym is the term “consume.” (Here’s the science teacher part.)
“Consumer” is a term with double meaning from two seemingly unrelated subjects with similar origins. Consumer is found in both ecology and economics. Even though these terms have different meanings, they are very similar because they share the root eco, which comes from the Greek word oikos, which means “house.” Ecology means “study of the house” (in this context, the house is our surroundings) and Economics means “management or maintenance of the house”. A consumer in ecological terms refers to “an organism that must eat or consume other organisms for nourishment.” A consumer in economic terms means “one who uses goods or services.”
So, by these definitions, we as human beings would fit both definitions as consumers. So, when we consume the body and blood of Christ during the Mass, we are given “spiritual sustenance.” Now, we “house” the Holy Spirit within ourselves. To continue to earn God’s favor, we must put this nourishment to work. To quote from my organization (Pax ChristiUSA), “We must Pray, We must Study, and We must Act."
We pray for guidance for our neighbors, families, and enemies. We study scriptures. We read scholarly works. We attend bible study. We become consumed with knowledge and learning. Finally, we take action. We take the spiritual nourishment the Holy Spirit provides us to do the Lord’s work. We perform works of peace and charity. We embrace and uplift persons from marginalized communities. We approach people with openness and compassion. We speak out against injustices and inhumanity. Every week, we attend Mass and receive the precious Body and Blood while feeding our body and soul to continue living through God. As members of the beloved community, this is how we create God’s Kingdom on Earth. This is what pleases God.
Author: Isaac E. Chandler currently resides in Jasper, FL. He has a B.S. in Biology from THEE Florida A&M University and a M.A., in Wildlife Ecology and Conservation from the University of Florida. He is currently a high school science teacher. He is a member of Saint Therese of the Child Jesus Catholic Church in Jasper, FL., and Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Live Oak, FL., where he serves as a lector and assists with music ministry. After spending a week and a half this summer binging on the Olympics, he is most anxious about the upcoming 2024 Election Season.
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