Ordinary 20

The Gospel is following John Chapter 6. It is matched with a wonderful selection of Old Testament selections. Paul's letter to the Ephesians is likely to get lost in the wealth of the Bread of Life discussion. Going back to the 17th Sunday he advices us to "live in a manner worthy of the call we have received." He adds to our consideration "humility and gentleness, patience and bearing with one another." On the 19th Sunday He urges us not to grieve the Holy Spirit but rather to empty our hearts of "bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, reviling, and malice." Replace these with compassion and forgiving. This week we continue with "watch carefully how you live. . .try to understand the will of God." To accomplish this he says "be filled with the Holy Spirit."

The connection to the Eucharist is clear. 1. To receive the Lord we must strive to be free from sin, and 2. In the Eucharist we receive the things we need to live the kind of life Paul is writing about.