20TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B)

1st Reading           Proverbs 9: 1-6

Psalm                      34: 1-2. 9-10. 11-12. 13-14 (R. 8a)

R:// "Taste and see that the Lord is good"

2nd Reading        Ephesians 5:15-20

Gospel                   John 6: 51-58

LIVING THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE

Beloved, today is the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B), and we need to realise that we are far gone in the wilderness of life. The Word of God today helps us to focus on Living the Extraordinary Life. Let us take a few thoughts from the first reading and the Gospel to assert our point and come to know what the "extraordinary life" entails and how vital it is for us to strive to attain it. 

The first reading is from Proverbs  9: 1-6. Chapter 9 of Proverbs forms part of the major reflection on wisdom. In fact, Wisdom is personified as a lady, and she invites people to herself. Concurrently, there is Lady Folly, who also throws an invitation to herself. Practically, the one who receives these two invitations is set to make a choice, whose effect is personally enjoyed. Individually and in our daily pursuits, we are thrown these invitations. Today, in the first reading, we shall focus on what Lady Wisdom presents. 

The first thing we are told is that "Wisdom has built her house; she has set up her seven pillars" (Prov. 9: 1). The author tells us in just a simple but condensed phrase the abilities and capabilities of Wisdom. The first thing concerns Construction, or if you like, Architecture. What Wisdom builds is a HOUSE. To feel comfortable in life, one needs to acquire a resting place of his or her own. However, the Hebrew word translated as HOUSE, which is BAYIT, has a nuanced meaning and could refer to a Sacred Space, specifically the TEMPLE. We find such nuance in 2 Samuel 7: 5, 13 the use of the same word, BAYIT, as TEMPLE. Already, we should start thinking within the context of a Holy Place, the House of God. The author then adds a sort of parallelism to break down the architectural design of the and mentions "seven pillars". In Hebrew numerology, seven denotes perfection or completion. What it means is that the house that Wisdom has built is a perfect one with no mistakes or defects. Every measurement is correct.

Beloved, this is not the first time we have noticed such precision in the art of creation. Remember that in Genesis 1:1-2:3, creation was done in 7 days. Each day up to the 6th, whatever God created is said to be good (tōb) and even the 7th day is blessed and made holy (Gen. 2: 3a). In God's creation, there is no defect. God's creation is perfect and that is "House". 

Going back to the image of the TEMPLE glimpsed in the use of the word BAYIT, we need to understand something interesting. In the TEMPLE, teachings go on. The teaching of the Law goes on in the TEMPLE and the Law gives Wisdom (Psalm 119: 98; 19: 7-8; 111: 10). For instance, Psalm 119: 98 says, "Your commandment makes me WISER than my foes, as it is forever with me". Therefore, nowhere else can you find wisdom except in the house of the Lord and the Scriptures because that is where God's instruction is given. Even the Old Testament has a large corpus known as Wisdom literature. The Word of God and constancy in the House of God is the surest way of acquiring Wisdom. To acquire the Extraordinary Life, you need to love the dwelling of the Lord and be constantly at the feet of his Word to be taught and guided. 

The second detail is that "She has prepared her meat, mixed her wine; yes, she has spread her table" (Prov. 9: 2). Realise that we are talking within the context of Temple worship. In this Temple, Wisdom has "prepared her meat". That phrase is rendered in Hebrew as TEBACH. Beloved, that is the same word used to mean "to slaughter or kill an animal". What is happening is that Wisdom has organised a feast. If we are talking within the context of the Temple worship, then one key activity in addition to the study of the Law, the Word of God, is the sacrifice of animals. It is not enough to be in the dwelling of the Lord, acquainting oneself with his Word and walking by it. It is all the more important to feed from the table of the Lord. The mention of "TABLE" makes it a relatable element, especially to an ALTAR. Table as used in the text is "SHULCHAN," which refers to an "altar" used for sacrifices, especially for the "showbread" or bread of the presence (Lehem pānîm) (Exod. 25: 23) and the sacrificial meat (Ezekiel 40: 39). Partaking of the Lord's table is very important for attaining and living the "Extraordinary Life"

The third detail is the invitation (vv. 3-6). The invitation is thrown to "whoever is naive; whoever wants understanding" (v. 4). That describes a person who is simple or inexperienced. The effect is that the inexperienced and naive person gets "understanding" (Heb: Bînâh, בּינה). Beloved, when we consider this word, BÎNÂH, we see that the summation of the Hebrew Alphabets therein is 67. Two numbers are there, 6 and 7. We noted that 7 is completion or perfection. In that case, 6 will denote less than perfection or completion, which describes the life of one who is inexperienced. Two things, I suggest, will merit that we get an attachment to perfection or completion — First, the Word of God and the Temple; Second, the Food in the Temple. Today, we can gladly talk about the Eucharist. These two will make us live the extraordinary life, the life of God himself who is all-good.

The Gospel passage from John 6: 51-58 is a portion of Jesus' discourse of Bread. In the Gospel, we can confidently define what the extraordinary life is. The passage repeats a particular phrase three times. In John 6: 51 we read, "Anyone who eats this bread will LIVE FOREVER". In v. 54, "Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has ETERNAL LIFE". Finally, in v. 58, we read, "Anyone who eats this bread will LIVE FOREVER". These are very similar statements expressing the same idea. The effect of eating the bread or the flesh (Greek: Sarx) of Jesus is ETERNAL LIFE. The Word ETERNAL is "AIONIOS". This word describes something without beginning and without end. That which will always be. 

Beloved, let us remember that in Exodus 3: 14-15, God reveals his identity to Moses on Sinai in the event of the burning bush. God said his identity is "I AM THAT I AM" (YHWH). It is from that expression that we call God YHWH (or YAHWEH). The implication is clear. The extraordinary life is the life of God himself; the identity of God. In fact, God has no beginning and has no end. He is always in the present. To acquire this extraordinary life, thus, to live eternally and reflect the identity of God in all facets of life — social, economic, political, and religious — two things are indispensable. First, being in the presence of the Lord, acquainting ourselves with his Word and living by it so as to acquire Wisdom. The second is that we need to feed from the table of the Lord, thus, the Eucharist. 

Beloved, the world, more than ever, needs to find God reflected by us. Even on earth, we can point out the realities of Heaven. We desire to live a life that is beyond the ordinary, a life that transcends what everyone else is living. We can set the pace by being in the Lord's presence, listening to his Word and living by it, and receiving the Eucharist. By this devoutly, we attain the extraordinary life, the eternal life, the life that reflects the identity of God. By this we live not as unwise men but as wise people (Eph. 5: 15). 

Pax et Bonum.