INTRODUCTION – (Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17, 18b; Eph 5:21-32; John 6:60-69) A man was robbing a bank and as he stood at the teller’s window with a gun in his hands, his mask fell off. He quickly put it back on and turned to a man who was a bank customer and asked him, “Did you see my face?” The man said “yes, I saw you.” And so the robber shot him. Then he turned to a couple who were standing nearby and said to the wife, “Did you see my face?” The wife said “No, I didn’t see you. But my husband did!”

    I wonder if that husband might have been the type of person who would give his wife a jab in the ribs when the lector reads today’s second reading. Paul says “wives should be subordinate to their husbands.” God did not make either husband or wife to be a dictator of the other. When you hear this reading, keep in mind the first sentence where Paul says to both husbands and wives: “Be subordinate to one another” You might notice that Paul is just as demanding (and maybe even more so) of husbands in this passage than he is of wives. Marriage involves mutual love and respect.

    Shortly after God’s people arrived in the Promised Land, Joshua, who became their leader after Moses died, gathered the people together to renew their covenant with Yahweh. They enthusiastically chose to commit themselves to follow God faithfully. History tells us later generations did not remain so enthusiastically faithful. In contrast with this commitment of fidelity, we hear in today’s gospel that many of Jesus’ disciples chose not to follow him after his teaching on the Eucharist. All the apostles stayed with him.

HOMILY – I’m sure it is somewhat uncomfortable to go to Mass with a lot of scaffolding between you and the altar. So I’ll try not to make you suffer too long. Today we hear the conclusion of the sixth chapter of John’s gospel. It began with Jesus feeding a huge crowd of people with five loaves of bread and two fish. The chapter moved on to a discussion about Jesus being the bread of life, then to Jesus’ statement that we must eat his flesh and drink his blood if we wish to share in eternal life. We see in today’s gospel the reaction to Jesus’ teaching. People thought he was out of his mind and walked away from him. Jesus didn’t try to explain what he had said so clearly and emphatically. The fact that Jesus let the people leave, knowing that they understood him literally, is a strong proof to me that this is the way he wants us to understand him when he says, “this is my body – this is the chalice of my blood.”

    As the people were walking away, Jesus simply asked his apostles if they wanted to leave him too. Peter, who often puts his foot in his mouth, came across this time with the right answer: “To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

    Sometimes it’s the only answer we can give to events in our lives. God’s ways are often hidden from us. God tells us he loves us, he will always be with us, but we don’t always experience that love or his presence. He tells us to love our enemies. To forgive those who have hurt us. To eat his body and drink his blood. Our faith challenges us to believe in what we cannot see or prove or perhaps not always feel or makes sense. In times of confusion or distress, we pray for help, we pray to understand. Our prayers seem to be unanswered. We seek counseling. Maybe it helps. But sometimes all we can end up doing is to say: “I believe. If Jesus said it, if Jesus said he loves us, he is with us, especially in the Eucharist, then I believe it because I believe in Jesus and he speaks the words of eternal life.” That my friends is what faith is, pure and simple.

    I promised I would not make you watch through the scaffolding too long, so I’ll conclude my homily with that message. Amen.

August 23, 1993 - Message from Jesus

On His Passion

Jesus: My dear child,

I was condemned to death, death on a cross. They gave Me a big cross and made Me carry it. They stood around and glared at Me. It weighed on My shoulder and I pulled at it until it finally moved. Every step was almost impossible as I dragged it, weighing so heavily on My shoulders.

My shoulder felt as if the bones inside would crack and the cross would fall through to the ground. I couldn’t drag it any more. I tried, I fell. I fell and its weight fell on Me. A guard hit Me with something sharp. It really hurt because he wanted Me to move, and fast! People were watching – on with the show! How dare I fall in the middle of the show! He hit Me again and the blow really stung Me. I got up because it hurt so badly. I tried to walk on.

My Mother was in the crowd. She looked at Me and her face looked red and hurt. Tears rolled down her cheeks like rain and as her eyes met Mine, I was hurt so by her sorrow! She was always by My side, silent and loving. She was My mother of love! She is always there next to you when you suffer.

I fell again and he (the guard) really hit Me. It (the cross) was so heavy that he and I together could barely move it. It seemed as I walked, heavier with the sins of the world heaped on it. My hands were bleeding. Blood ran from the wounds of My thorns and My head throbbed, seeming to make the wounds in My head bleed even more. Some of the Blood was dried, some of it running all over My Body. I had so many cuts and bruises – and people watched and laughed!

I am Jesus, Son of the Living God, and they laughed and mimicked Me! Oh, such hardened hearts! How vile can men’s heart become? The devil’s grip is paralyzing and crippling.

The walk was so long up a hill and over rocks – the cross had to be lifted over the rocks. My Body was bleeding so badly! My heart was pounding. I knew that the salvation of all men depended on My love. Therefore, I went through such agony.

I thought of My intense love for you – that many would go to heaven because of My suffering – and I continued to the top of the hill. At the top they laid Me on the cross and with a big hammer nailed My hands to it. It was the worst (suffering) yet. My hands were nailed with big nails and the big hammer. Oh, it was unbelievable! Then, as if that weren’t enough, with a big nail they nailed through both feet.

Then they lifted the cross and banged it into (a hole in) the ground. My shoulders ached from how I hung. My head bobbed and My neck ached and they laughed and said, "Now save Yourself." I hurt so much! I suffered this way for hours – which seemed like forever – and they glared at Me and laughed! My Mother watched in such agony.

For love of you, to My death I gave you My Body. My child, I shed My Blood and gave you My life that you might be with Me forever in heaven – not for a day, a month or a year, but forever with Me in heaven.

I am the true Bread come down from heaven. He who eats My Flesh will have life forever. For the drink I give you is My Blood and food you eat is My Body. Who would lay down his life for a friend? I did, for you. I love you this much, child. Forget about those who reject you. You have My life that I gave you and I give you life eternal.

I am the One true God. I am the Light of life. He who abides in Me will have life eternal, for the drink I give is My Blood and the food I give is My Body. Drink and eat and have everlasting life.

My child, that is all you need to know. Love one another and be good that you may enter into My Kingdom.

end of August 23, 1993