Eucharist and Mission

Readings for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

1 Kings 19:4-8
Psalm 34:2-9
Ephesians 4:30-5:2
John 6:41-51
USCCB Link to the Readings

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Our Gospel today continues the Johannine narrative on the Bread of Life. Allow me to begin this reflection by narrating a personal experience, which has helped shape my views on the interrelationship between the Eucharist which celebrates Christ’s Paschal Mystery and the Church’s mission of evangelization.

A Bangladeshi Beggar. During the Lenten season some few years ago, while I was a visiting professor in Dhaka, Bangladesh, I had a "graced moment," a "defining experience" in my missionary awareness and perspective. It has remained seared in my consciousness and has forced me to ask many foundational questions about mission and my own faith commitment. It involves a Bangladeshi beggar woman.

I saw her on the road, in front of the large walled compound of a wealthy family dwelling. I could not clearly see her face, as she was several hundred feet ahead of me. Her tattered clothes covered a malnourished body; she was alone, although other beggars were walking ahead of her on the road. I was proceeding along the same path, leisurely taking a late afternoon walk.

Suddenly a luxury car approached with its horn blowing. The driver probably wanted the beggars to disperse and also wanted the gate of the compound opened by the servants. The woman appeared startled as the car turned sharply in front of her and the gate swung open. Within seconds two large dogs emerged from the compound and jumped at the woman, knocking her to the ground. She screamed and cried both from fear and the pain caused by the dogs nipping at her. I stood frozen, horrified at the sight.

An Appalling Scene. A well-dressed madam promptly emerged from the chauffeur-driven car. She ordered the driver to bring the car into the compound; the dogs were called to return inside; the servants were commanded to close and lock the gate. And, the beggar woman? She was left alone on the ground—outside the gate. I stood helpless, gazing at this appalling scene.

Only the other frightened beggars came to the aid of the woman; only they showed mercy and compassion. I stood at a distance and wept at this scene of crucifixion. I admitted to being a guilty bystander. My fears and inadequacies left me paralyzed. I had not one taka coin in my pocket to give; I could not offer one word of consolation in the Bengali language which I did not speak; I did not approach the woman for fear of misinterpretation that a foreign man would touch a Bengali woman in public in this strictly Islamic culture. I simply wept in solidarity. I wept long and hard. And, in succeeding years, I have frequently returned to that scene and prayed to God: "Do not let me forget that experience. Allow it to shape my life, my mission, my faith vision. Permit it to remain a 'defining moment' in understanding my mission vocation."

Personal Reflection. This experience of the Bangladeshi beggar-woman (each of you could supply additional experiences) forces us to look closely at the large scale of suffering in the contemporary world. Human brokenness becomes a clear point of insertion for reflection on the meaning of Eucharist and mission.

I recall the poignant words of Saint John Chrysostom: “Do you wish to honor the body of Christ? Do not ignore him when he is naked. Do not pay him homage in the temple clad in silk, only then to neglect him outside where he is cold and ill-clad. He who said: ‘This is my body’ is the same who said: ‘You saw me hungry and you gave me no food,’ and ‘Whatever you did to the least of my brothers you did also to me.” … What good is it if the Eucharistic table is overloaded with golden chalices when your brother is dying of hunger? Start by satisfying his hunger and then with what is left you may adorn the altar as well.”

Concluding Reflection. This presentation began with the narration of a personal experience of an encounter between a missionary and a Bangladeshi beggar-woman. More reflection needs to be given to the wealth of insights that can still emerge from viewing mission and evangelization through the optic of the Eucharist and the paschal mystery. Finally, relying on God's grace, this missionary looks forward to meeting that Muslim Bangladeshi beggar-woman once again in the resurrected life with Christ the Lord in heaven. Because she so deeply shared the paschal mystery while here on earth, I am most confident she will be there!

Notes on the Sunday Readings

First Reading
1 Kings 19:4-8 – Today’s first reading narrates an event in the life of prophet Elijah who is fleeing from the wicked queen, Jezebel. God provides food and drink for Elijah (and us) to complete the arduous journey.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 34:2-9 – This psalm reflects how the Lord nourishes his people; we are invited to taste and see God’s goodness.

Second Reading
Ephesians 4:30-5:2 – Here Saint Paul clearly identifies what we must discard and the new attitudes we must wholeheartedly adopt to live as God’s dear children.

Gospel
John 6:41-51 – Today’s gospel is the third in a series of five about the Bread of Life. This bread is none other than Christ’s own flesh, given for the life of the world.

Notes and Commentary by Maryknoller James Kroeger, author of
Walking with Pope Francis: The Official Documents in Everyday Language
(Orbis Books – 2023), which recently won First Place from the Catholic Media Association in the category for “Books on Pope Francis.”

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