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WOF Radio > Sermons > Sermon Archive for 2012 > Sermon 605 : The Bread of Life, The Body of Christ : 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Sermon 605 : The Bread of Life, The Body of Christ : 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time

8/12/2012

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Today's readings are from First Kings and the sixth chapter of John's Gospel. Our passage for this weekend discusses the Eucharist as the necessary antidote for spiritual exhaustion. We all need the Body of Christ to nourish our souls and keep us in communion with God.

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Comments

Joe Kuligowski

Dearest Father,

I would ask you to please reflect on your opening statements. Many people will never have the "grand" experiences you were fortunate to participate. Visions of a historical place with seemingly not a care in the world. You were doing something that many people dream if not have no concept that such an experience exists. These things sound great and I do confess that I am a bit jealous. (I could never have had the opportunities you did. I lived in inner city Detroit taking care of my brothers with no parents.) However, this type of talk can cause problrems, especialy, when there is so much trouble in the Church.
Look at today's headlines on the internet about the Religious Sister convention. Don't you think that the example you give adds even more "flame to the fire" of the pompus male presens in the Church. Yes, hitting the wall is just what you say. The point we try to make is better served when it gets to the essence of Jesus' teaching leaving out the personal details. It seems a lot of people try to filter their relationship with God through their experiences trying to gauge the significance. If it isn't grand enough it probably does not count or worth even to contemplate.
I know you do not intend any pompus attitudes or "holier" than thou attitude. You are a genuine person. Pease accept this note in the spirt it is given. I love your Homilies and teachings. Sometimes I just feel disconnected from the Church when I hear you talk about all the famous people you quote and places you have been. My life is truly "ordinary".

8/10/2012 2:19:29 PM

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Kathy

I was just talking with a friend about God allowing us to be in a "Holding Pattern": like a pilot in an airplane. Days, weeks, months, even years can go by while we wait on God to do something, reveal something.
Life seems to go on without us. For St. John of the Cross it was "The Dark Night of the Soul". During such a pattern we forget we have God as our co-pilot, 24/7. Should I NOT assume that such a pattern is of God, even if I am recieving Eucharist? God Speed!

8/10/2012 3:59:29 PM

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Avila Power

Thank you Fr Barron for such an enlightening homily. Yes if only some Catholics would feed on the Bread of Life, more often and with greater reverence, their lives would change dramatically.

8/11/2012 6:01:40 AM

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Pamela A Branham

So well spoken! Thank you for making it so real. I never thought about being spiritually exhausted. But this explains it so clear. Thank you!

8/11/2012 12:02:59 PM

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Raulyn Estalane

excellent homilies.i always consider this as my number one source when i prepare my homily.
thanks a million father

8/11/2012 7:23:09 PM

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vito benigno

Peace be with you Father Barron,When i ran marathons several yrs ago i found that its not just training, and what you eat. I learned that you get yourself mentally prepared as well.you are to calculate hourly how much water electrolyes and protein to consume. to much water or not enough and your in trouble.Hitting the wall at mile 20 when everything shuts off is not a good feeling.But when you get that second wind,you run with no effort and you are no longer tired but something kicks in and you finish stronger than you started.Bishop Sheen said athletes spend hours a day in exercise but cant kneel and pray for five minutes.I was dropping my daughter off at carmel this week and i thought since i was so close to MaryTown i would go in and pray to our Lord and tell him i love him.I felt very sick to my stomach but went anyway.Our spiritual life is much the same as the athlete.you get out of it what you put into.i didnt always love to pray the rosary,read the scriptures daily,divine mercy chaplet or confession as often as possible. consecrate myself to the Holy Spirit, the Immaculata and the SACRED HEART OF JESUS daily. but i have found out that the more you pray the more you want to pray and it becomes a great joy and a longing like when you would do the those 20 mi training days.you can play as you said Father and let go and surender lovingly and happily.when there seems to be no exit there is prayer.the Holy Mass being the HIGHEST form of Prayer we have, especially the Eucharist that allows us to already prepare and enter into Heaven itself while we are yet on this earth.St.Clare Virgin Ora Pro Nobis!

8/11/2012 10:00:51 PM

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Paul Mugerwa

Thank you Fr. Barron for unpacking that impotant metaphor. Jesus Christ is indeed that sustaining super substantial bread.

8/12/2012 1:11:22 AM

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Fred Guyette

Hi Fr. Barron, Would you like to comment on the difference between Elijah at Carmel and his successor Elisha, when General Namaan asks the prophet about "bowing down in the house of Rimmon"?

8/12/2012 7:38:31 AM

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Joan

So spiritual exhaustion really does exist. But I am hearing two different things here. Or is it the same thing, but only to different (maybe extreme) degrees or levels? We are all the same in His eyes.

Elijah was in the midst of it all. It’s easy to see why he said, take my life. The place to be was with God. And it still is. We’re in the midst of it all. It’s His purpose and He doesn’t want to lose one of us. We are here for the other. It’s what comes from within that defiles. It’s His plan, His purpose, who could possibly understand His love, it’s too big to know. It is indeed a silent or secret suffering between one’s own self and God - one has to be nourished in, with, from His life. There is no substitute for participation in the Divine life. He is our creator, our Father, and any other way, in terms of this world, is like temporary fast food that leads to death. Do you see? yuck, what did I just put into my body?.. or perhaps put into or add to the body of Christ? We are one. It’s what comes from within that defiles, we are here for the other.

All in all, none of it fits in with this world does it.

8/12/2012 11:30:32 AM

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Judy

Thank you for your words on the Eucharist. My parish is starting your study at the end of August.

God bless.

8/12/2012 12:10:27 PM

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Suzanne

As aways, inspiring.

8/12/2012 12:33:52 PM

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Mary Anne Kinnucan

Joe,

Your comments were thoughtful and understandable. Many of us do not run marathons or bicycle for hundred of miles to discover what it means to hit a wall were we feel as if we just cannot go on. Over the last ten years I have run a grand marathon and have hit the wall more than once. The grand marathon of this past decade, for me, has been carrying for elderly parents, being present for a brother during an almost three year struggle will terminal brain cancer, while working full time and struggling with a chronic heart condition. I think what Father is trying to say, is that holy communion is the bread of life that sustains or replenishes us when we are physically, emotionally and spiritually just cannot go on. Although Father spoke of a glorious trip that took huge endurance, you too are making a glorious and grand trip through the most meaningful work of Jesus, which is love of your brother and family. Peace be with you. You are on a grand journey as ordinary and difficult as it may appear. I know today, that holy communion replenished my soul and gave me strength to heal and go on.

8/12/2012 9:28:50 PM

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vito benigno

My dear brother Joe in Christ,Our LORD JESUS CHRIST himself sometimes spoke in parables so the people got the message.It was obvious When our LORD JESUS instituted the EUCHARIST,HE was in fact giving us HIS REAL BODY AND BLOOD SUBSTANTIALLY! Our LORD JESUS retracts nothing regarding the REAL PRESENCE.We have all hit the wall spiritually.ALL those famous people Father Barron speaks of were ordinary people like you and me that simply became fully desposed to the Grace of God and became extraordinary people simply because they fully cooperated with God.Yes, Holy MOTHER CHURCH has the priest scandal.This does not diminish the teaching authority of Holy MOTHER CHURCH since Jesus CHRIST HIMSELF founded it over 2000yrs.We are all fallen and not one of us is without sin.When they were going to stone Mary Magdalene,JESUS tells them,he who is without sin cast the first stone.As far as male pomp.God created Adam first and from Adam he took a rib to bring him a helpmate.We have disorder in the family because the natural order of God is not being followed.Holy MOTHER CHURCH has not been changed or diminished in its teaching Authority in over 2000yrs nor will it be.i would look at Mother Theresa who gives everything up to live among and serve the poorest of the poor.i am not a wealthy man but i do know there is true freedom in being detached from the temporal things of this world.Everything will pass away,only God remains.St.Jane Frances de Chantal,Religious Ora Pro Nobis!

8/12/2012 10:31:17 PM

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TO: Joe

Where are you looking Joe? Is God's plan for your life not good enough for you?

Awareness is good and really important, but don't get stuck there.

Life is sacred,fragile for every single one of us. He knows your heart, Joe, can you trust Him just a little more? Maybe He's trying to show you something and you're refusing to look because you're suffering.

I'm glad you are here.

8/13/2012 6:55:37 AM

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Kathy

RE: VITO BENIGNO
Both of your comments reveal the zeal you have acquired for Our Lord! You speak well, seem to have several Fruits and Gifts of The Holy Spirit! The Divine Mercy Chaplet, you mention so often, is so very inspiring, giving our source of Mercy, our Redeemer, the perspective of God's quest, the entire world. God Speed!

8/13/2012 10:45:22 AM

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Joe

Thank you all for your thoughts!
I can see the significance and life giving communion of His Body and Blood in all of you. I need to reflect and frequently "get kicked in the pants" to get back on track(Reconciliation?!?).
I know He knows each one of our stories and the journey to eternal life.
Maybe for me the "suffering" part is I'm expecting something grandiose. I'm being very careless of HOW I am receiving Him in the Eucharist - you know "on my terms!"

8/13/2012 12:18:55 PM

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Eileen

I feel so blessed after this sermon because I attended adoration and Mass this morning.

I've not 'hit the wall' through indifference, resentment, or anger. I think I've 'hit the wall' in the past through depression. It sounds like Elisha may have been a bit depressed too.

I love the way Father said that "we need the Eucharist for spiritual success." There is- indeed often -a difference between worldly success and spritual success.

I would also love to hear more about how the Eucharist is proposed drastically and dramatically. Possibly through the meaning of the words used in the bible.

8/13/2012 5:04:52 PM

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Paul

Hey Joe. If I was one of your brothers, I think I'd have been pretty glad you weren't anyplace but Detroit. :)

I had two older brothers, one passed away and the other lives on the far side of the world from me now. Rest of the family is gone now too, so the last few years have been a bit of a wall, as Father Barron puts it. And when people in the Church that you'd like to count on, seem to put themselves above it all, well, it just seems to get harder to see how it all fits.

Still, it'd be nice to be able to go to some of those places and see the world, and if I had the wealth, I might do it myself! Those disobedient nuns are going to complain, anyway, no matter what any one does. :)

I think you're right though, the higher ups in the Church do seem to be out of touch with certain elements of the truth, you know, like they are removed somehow from all the everyday suffering and hardships of the poor.

I live in a small city where there is a lot of wealth and attachment to riches, etc. I don't really think I'd want to be that stuck on material goods and that type of social status anyway, but sometimes I know I'd like to be able to do it all over again and avoid the troubles I had going through life.

In a place like this there is a lot of attitude that develops, and perhaps it's getting like that more and more all over the world. The growing arrogance and contempt shown toward the poor and the sick.

Heaven can seem a long way off and not even a reality, at times. I try not to listen to the proud and the haughty when they try to get a kind of "one-up" over me ..... but the proud and the haughty in me too often gives rise to anger! :)

Well, in all of that, I guess all a person can do is try to be kind, and gentle, and loving. Especially sometimes to themself. I think the world (the one that is run by the father of lies) wants to do everything possible to keep us from truly being kind and gentle and really just having a true heart and kind soul. And that devil can be a tricky and clever demon, filled with hate and malice and all the time looking like he's the most reasonable and respectable, right and ready person in the room!

I'd sure like to be able to trust God with everything, every day, and every second of every minute, but looks like I'm not quite there yet! Not even close. ;)

Still, I'm thinking maybe that's not as important as the desire to trust Him and the effort and struggle put towards that. I hope so, anyway!

Well, I'd like to meet someone who is already there, but though we talk a lot about it, it seems that this part of the world doesn't have many trusting sorts around. And I think it's true, too, that the Church is in a pretty deep crisis in the western world, and it can be difficult sometimes, what with all the heterodox nonsense that gets passed off these days as plausible Christianity, to have that trust we want to have. Still, He's there, in all the tabernacles in the Church, and there are times when it is gloriously impossible for my pride and wounded heart to deny that One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Truth!

There was a really good movie on EWTN, I think Saturday night, maybe Friday, about St. Bernadette and Our Lady of Lourdes — a kind of historical fiction about a family that is involved with St. Bernadette from modern day back to the time of Bernadette's life in France.

I love the story, the reality, of St. Bernadette and Our Lady of Lourdes, and just to remember that sometimes the most blessed people on earth are not the ones we might think. Sometimes, the world sees them as poor, or very ordinary, or maybe not even as good as others, or even think them to be so insignificant as to not really matter much at all. But Our Lady and her Son don't necessarily see things the way the world does quite often.

Well, I've rambled on, that's for sure. Just wanted to say that part of me gets, I think, what you're saying. My health has been off for a few years now, and it seems sometimes that that is reason enough for the proud and the arrogant to just kind of see me as second-rate. Maybe they do, maybe they don't. Nonetheless, this life only lasts for a sort while, we learn to know to believe, and the soul will live eternally. Wouldn't it be amazing to be a complete part of that eternity with the likes of St. Bernadette and Our Holy Mother Mary! This life can be nice, but a person would have to be pretty self-absorbed and silly not to be able to see that this world is not Heaven, and if it's true that this life is a blink of an eye before eternity, seems that we worry about a lot of distracting and pointless things and make an awful lot of self-congratulatory fuss about what we are accomplishing and gaining in this world that really only make it harder for us to let go of our pride and truly believe in the Kingdom of Heaven.

May God bless us and Mother Mary keep us.

8/13/2012 5:19:37 PM

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Ruth

I am stuck in this moment that keeps reocurring...pride....my own grandson and his mom , she seems to keep me from him as she does not seem to like me, I always feel disconnected and she goes out of her way to avoid visits and she has an indifferent attitude towards me...I do not want to feel this way, I want to receive the Grace to be free of this battle which I keep experiencing ...i am listening to your homily and I do receive eucharist and I even feel like i do so with disrespect because of my attitude... the "food" you talk about...I will try to pause and let the words you impart sink in...please prayer for me. PAX

8/13/2012 8:22:42 PM

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Eileen

Praying for Ruth and Joe today!

8/14/2012 7:17:43 AM

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Maria Quintana

Dear Father,
I Always listen to your sermon in preparation to the Sunday mass and also in preparation to a weekly ministry meeting where we discuss Gods word. I the past few weeks I have noticed that the posting of your sermon is now after the Sunday where he gospel is read. Is there a way you can go back to posting it before the Sunday? It is immensely helpful for us to prepare for ministry. Thank you so very much for all your work. Sincerely , Maria

8/14/2012 7:38:59 AM

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vito benigno

Joe,
Taking care of your brothers is a great act of LOVE.i have needed a kick in the pants and still do.WE are all pilgrims and our true home awaits us.Our BLESSED MOTHER told St.Bernadette that her true happiness would not be found in this life but in Heaven.Just remember God knew and loved you before he created anything!You are not alone.we are one body. JESUS gave us his Mother the IMMACULATA to guide us and Holy Mother Church.Our Queen of Heaven and earth always leads us to her Divine SON.God Speed!to you Kathy as well and to all of you,my Dear Brothers and Sisters IN CHRIST.ST.Maximilian Mary Kolbe,Priest and Martyr Pray for us!

8/14/2012 11:01:40 AM

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Isabel

Thank you Father Barron.

8/15/2012 2:52:27 PM

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