A Fulfilling Meal
Aug. 18: Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
A new parish has opened up near my house, dedicated to the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite—what most people call "Traditional Latin Mass."1
I've been to mass in English (naturally), Spanish, French, and Urdu, but never Latin, so I decided to go on the Feast of the Assumption.
The most surprising thing was how not really surprising it was. I don't speak Latin, but I don't speak Urdu, either. My understanding wasn’t important. The important thing was what Jesus said—whenever two or three of you are gathered, there I am also.2
The readings were in Latin, but the homily was in English, so that was helpful. The songs were beautiful, even if I didn't know the words.
The biggest (visible) difference was that the altar was against the wall. When I was a kid, only a couple of decades after Vatican II, we were taught that priests used to "face away" from the congregation. But that's not really what's happening at all. I sat in the back; I wouldn't say everyone else was "facing away" from me.
The priest is facing the same direction as us. He's leading the mass, but it gave the sense that we were all in it together, rather than the priest putting on a show for us to watch.
In that way, it felt more participatory, which relates to today's readings. Eating is an internal activity, consuming calories to power our bodies. But a meal, which is what the mass is, is a group activity that we do together.
That's why we often call the Eucharist "Communion." It's something we do together as a community. (Bishop Barron goes into this in great detail in his book on the Eucharist, which I highly recommend.)
Reading 1
Prv 9:1-6
Wisdom has built her house, she has set up her seven columns; she has dressed her meat, mixed her wine, yes, she has spread her table. She has sent out her maidens; she calls from the heights out over the city: "Let whoever is simple turn in here; To the one who lacks understanding, she says, Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed! Forsake foolishness that you may live; advance in the way of understanding."
There's a difference between food and a meal. Food is necessary for us to live, yes, but a meal is more than that. A meal is a gathering. It's about interacting with our friends and family, not simply consuming nourishment.
We all know it's rude to eat and run, not just because it's inconsiderate to others, but also it short-changes yourself. Food is necessary, but a meal is important.
Knowledge and wisdom are similar. Knowing stuff is good, it's food. Wisdom is a meal, where we actually apply knowledge in our lives.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
R. Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.
Just as Wisdom in the first reading called out to the Foolish, God welcomes the poor and weak. The lowly are hungry, and have left space for God. The rich and powerful don't think they need God, which is the most foolish thing imaginable.
Reading 2
Eph 5:15-20
Brothers and sisters: Watch carefully how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord. And do not get drunk on wine, in which lies debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks always and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father.
Paul, a good Jew, incorporates the lessons of Proverbs and Psalms into his teachings. Wine is good, but drunkenness is not; revelry is good, but debauchery is not. It requires wisdom to recognize the difference.
The Holy Spirit helps us discern these things, which is why we should "bless the Lord at all times."
Alleluia
Jn 6:56
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
remains in me and I in him, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
God became incarnate, a real human being in the world. Physicality matters.
Gospel
Jn 6:51-58
Jesus said to the crowds: "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."
The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever."
The reason God gives us sacraments (visible signs that give us invisible grace) is that we need to be able to see and hear, touch and taste. We are embodied souls, physical beings. How can He be inside us if we don't eat His flesh?
The quarrelling Jews aren't wrong—it is a hard teaching. But it's a teaching of Jesus nonetheless.
They're an apostolate of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter, so don't worry, they're not schismatics. They submit to the pope and all that.