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19th Sunday in Ordinary Time Perhaps you heard the story of the atheist who while out hiking fell off the side of a cliff, only to grab onto a branch that stopped him from falling to a certain death. He held on for dear life, with nothing between him and the canyon below. He decided at that moment to give prayer a chance, asking God for salvation from his fate. A Voice from above told him to let go of the branch; his new faith would save him. The man thought for a moment, and then looking skyward asked, "If there anyone else up there that I can talk to about this?" When we are offered the gift of eternal life, do we ignore it? We listen to the words of Jesus as he admonishes a crowd of grumblers: "No one can come unto me unless the Father who sent me draws him to me, and I will raise him up on the last day." We are drawn to God; on Sundays wea re drawn to Mass. Our parishes draw us in from the parking lot or the street; the pastor draws us to the altar to receive the Holy Eucharist. At times, we may feel as if we are holding on for our dear lives, barely to make it through each day. It is at these times that we quiet ourselves and listen to God. We are drawn into loving arms, and we are safe. Underlying Jesus' message that He is the Bread of Life, is that in order for us to receive eternal life, we must live in love. To live in love means to seek Jesus, and through Him, God , in contemplative prayer. We seek Him, because doing so is the beginning of true love (CCC2709). In the sharing of the Eucharist at every Mass, we are reaffirming our vow to live a life of love. Today, as you approach the altar, leave behind your bitterness and anger. Let go of that branch, and you will be saved! "I am the Bread of Life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die" John 6: 48-50.
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