Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B-2015

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Put on the new self (Eph 4, 24)

Jesus fully reveals God’s will for us.

Those who are looking for Jesus do something good. The only thing they lack is a better motive.

That is because they are not approaching Jesus as beginners, eager to delve into the mystery of the loaves and fish. They have not perceived in that sign any fuller sense. They are looking for him because they had their fill of the loaves.

After frankly telling them so, Jesus urges them to work for the food that endures. In effect, we are taught that we do not live by bread alone. We have needs that are not bodily. Rightly does St. Vincent de Paul warns: “If until now I all I have done is to give them [the poor] food, medicine and other things pertaining to the body, I have not done my duty” SV.FR X:334).

No, Jesus does not want us to shortchange ourselves, appraising ourselves well below our worth. It is not part of the Creator’s plans that we be resigned to being slaves, though with fleshpots to sit by and eating our fill of bread, as satisfied as the proverbial “satisfied pig.” We are expected to go through the trouble of “dissatisfied Socrates” to get hold of what is most important that leads to eternal solidarity.

Not that Jesus dismisses our temporal life and our needs. If it were the case, he would not have fed the multitude nor would he have gone about doing good. Yet the Son of God did not turn stones into bread; he did not mistake his messianic vocation for his personal fleeting satisfaction nor did he take himself to be a magician.

To know who we are and what we have to do to accomplish God’s works, we have to present ourselves as beginning students and learn from the Teacher who states: “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.” It is Jesus who reveals that our fulfillment lies in seeking first the kingdom of God and his justice.

To learn as disciples means essentially to empty ourselves in order to put on Jesus Christ (SV.FR XI:343). It is to count ourselves among the simple folks to whom God reveals things he hides from the wise and the learned. As John L. McKenzie explained it: “The simple see at once that the ‘way’ of Jesus is very hard to do, but easy to understand. It takes real cleverness and sophisticated intelligence to find ways to evade and distort the clear meaning of what Jesus said” (The Civilization of Christianity).

Moreover, discipleship is sharing in the Eucharist. This commits us to the poor, which will prove we bear the very divine seal of the one who proved himself by serving others and by offering his life as a ransom for all.

Lord Jesus, grant that we learn from you and fulfill ourselves according to your design.


VERSIÓN ESPAÑOLA

18º Domingo de Tiempo Ordinario B-2015

Revestíos del hombre nuevo (Ef 4, 24)

Jesús revela plenamente la voluntad de Dios para nosotros.

Hacen bien aquellos que buscan a Jesús. Solo les falta mejor motivo.

Es que no se acercan a Jesús como iniciados, con afán de profundizar en el misterio de los panes y los peces. Ningún sentido más pleno han percibido en aquel signo. Lo buscan porque han comido hasta hartarse.

Luego de decírselo francamente, Jesús les exhorta a procurar el alimento duradero. Efectivamente, se nos enseña que no solo de pan vivimos. Nuestras necesidades no solo son corporales. Con razón advierte san Vicente de Paúl: «Si hasta ahora no he atendido más que a proporcionarles [a los pobres] el alimento, las medicinas y las otras cosas que se refieren al cuerpo, no he cumplido con mi obligación» (SV.ES IX:917).

No, Jesús no nos quiere injustos a nosotros mismos, tasándonos muy bajo. No forma parte de los planes del Creador que nos conformemos con ser esclavos, aun sentados junto a nuestras ollas de carne y comiendo pan hasta saciarnos, tan satisfechos como el proverbial «cerdo satisfecho». Se espera de nosotros que pasemos las penas del «Sócrates insatisfecho» para captar lo más importante que lleve a la solidaridad eterna.

No es que Jesús descarte nuestra vida temporal y nuestras necesidades. Si fuese así, no hubiera alimentado a la multitud ni hubiese pasado haciendo el bien. Sin embargo, el Hijo de Dios no convirtió las piedras en pan; no confundió su vocación mesiánica con su satisfacción pasajera personal ni se tomó por mago.

Para conocer quiénes somos y saber qué tenemos que hacer para trabajar como Dios quiere, debemos presentarnos como iniciados y aprender del Maestro que declara: «Lo que Dios quiere que hagáis es que creáis en el que él ha enviado». Es Jesús quien revela que nuestra realización esta en buscar sobre todo el reino de Dios y su justicia.

Aprender como discípulos significa esencialmente vaciarnos de nosotros mismos para revestirnos de Jesucristo (SV.ES XI:236). Es contarnos entre la gente sencilla a la que revela Dios las cosas que esconde de los sabios y entendidos. Como lo explicó John L. McKenzie: «La gente sencilla enseguida ve que el “camino” de Jesús es difícil de seguir, pero fácil de entender. Hacen falta verdadera astucia y sofisticada inteligencia para eludir y distorsionar el sentido claro de lo que dijo Jesús» (véase The Civilization of Christianity).

El discipulado es participación además en la Eucaristía. Ésta entraña un compromiso en favor de los pobres, lo que nos acreditará como llevando el mismo sello divino del que se acreditó, sirviendo a los demás y ofreciendo su vida en rescate por todos.

Concédenos, Señor Jesús, aprender de ti y realizarnos según tu propósito.