Posted by Word Alive–Fr. Bel San Luis, SVD August 8, 2021/19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
An elderly woman, accompanied by a young doctor, was being wheeled into a room in preparation for surgery. Visibly nervous, she blurted out, “Doc, doctor, please be gentle with me. This is my first time to be operated on.”
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The youthful surgeon glanced at her and said, “Don’t worry, madam. This is also my first time to do an operation.” When a doctor tells you not to worry your operation will be successful—even if it’s his first time–and you believe him, that’s faith—human faith.
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In this 19th Sunday gospel, Christ asks us to believe in the Eucharist, even though we don’t understand how his body can become our life-giving food and his blood our nourishing drink.
How can Jesus do this? Humanly speaking, we don’t know. But if Jesus could use his power to feed 5,000 people with only five loaves of bread and two fish, if he could walk on water, if he could raise the dead Lazarus to life, then he could use his power to change bread into his body and wine into his blood to feed millions spiritually throughout the ages.
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Ultimately, we are exhorted to believe, to trust in Jesus even though we cannot understand how it all can happen. Like Peter and the apostles who stayed behind after the skeptical followers turned their backs on Jesus, we say: “Lord, to whom do we go? You have the words of eternal life and we have come to believe that You are the Son of God” (Jn 6,70).
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FAITH AMID COVID TRIALS. Faith in the Eucharist should, likewise, inspire us to have faith in God amid trials and crisis in life, which are difficult to understand.
There’s a married couple I know who died a few months ago due to the corona virus. The husband passed away then the wife who took care of him followed after a few days. One of the children lamented, “It’s hard to understand how God could take our two parents away!”
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Presently, many people are battered by health and financial crises due to the lengthy lockdowns and workers losing their jobs.
The twin crises have caused personal and family problems like those who cannot pay their monthly bills or medications and treatments for dialysis, cancer and lingering sicknesses.
These adversities have been aggravated by the loss of crops and properties resulting from the destructive floods wrought by typhoon Fabian and the monsoon rains.
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You may complain: “I can’t understand God. Why do I experience all of these?
If we can do something to remedy these problems, by all means do it. If we cannot, then let’s hold on steadfast in faith and trust that God in his goodness has other plans.
St. James, the apostle, wrote: “He who remains faithful under trials and passes the test will receive the reward that’s promised to those who love Him” (James 1,12).
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THE LIGHTER SIDE. Weighed down with many problems, a man approached a priest and asked: “Bless me, Father, because my family is in crisis! My son is a drug user, my daughter an unwed mother, my wife a gambler, and he went on and on. The priest got tired listening. He said, “Brod, isn’t there anything positive? The man replied: “Positive? Yes, Father. I am…HIV positive!”
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Try Jesus. If you don’t like Him, the devil will always take you back.
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And if you’re an unbeliever of Jesus or an atheist, when you die, you’re all smartly- dressed in the coffin but nowhere to go!
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You may party daily in Hell, but you will be the barbeque!
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FAMILY TV MASS–is aired on TV5 One Sport Channel 59, Free TV Ch. 41 at 6-7 a.m. every Sunday and anytime at “MCFI SVD Media” Account on YouTube and Facebook Page. Priest presider: FR. ALFREDO ROLLON, SVD. “The FAMILY that prays together stays together.”
