In the summer of 1939 in Orleans, France, a group of bored and restless boys kept finding ways to get into trouble. On a particular day, they decided to entertain themselves with a daring prank. They decided to challenge one of their friends, Aaron Lustiger, to confess an absurd list of imaginary sins to a priest, purely for the amusement of observing the priest’s reaction.
Thanks so much for stopping by to read this homily for the 18th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, August 4, 2024. I appreciate your sharing this on your social media posts and your feedback and comments… I’m also grateful for all those who’ve asked for the audio version and share them as well at SOUNDCLOUD click HERE or from ITUNES as a podcast HERE. May the Lord be glorified in your reading and sharing- Father Jim
Aaron, who was Jewish, entered the confessional with the intent to shock the priest with outrageous claims. But the priest, pretty quicky figuring out he was being pranked, gave him a seemingly harsh penance: to go to the large crucifix in the church, look at Jesus, and say three times, “Jesus, I know you died for me, but I don’t give a damn.”
Aaron approached the crucifix, sat down in front of it, and recited the phrase. At first, he chuckled at the absurdity. But as he repeated the phrase, something profound happened. He began to truly see the crucifix—Jesus’ nails, the wound, the crown of thorns. He began to see not just a man, but a God who loved him with an unending, sacrificial love. Moved by this realization, Aaron wept and experienced a profound transformation. He was later baptized into the Catholic Church, became a priest, and eventually the Cardinal Archbishop of Paris.
As we reflect on today’s readings from Exodus and the Gospel of John, this story resonates deeply. Last week, we began a five-week reflection on the sixth chapter of the Gospel of John, focusing on the profound teaching of the Eucharist. We started with the miracle of the loaves and fishes, where Jesus fed over 5,000 people with just five loaves and two fish. Today, we see the aftermath—Jesus has returned to Capernaum, and the crowds are searching for Him again, not out of awe or gratitude, but because they want more food.
Jesus, knowing their hearts, tells them they are seeking Him not because of the miraculous signs but because they want their physical hunger satisfied once more. He invites them to seek the food that endures to eternal life, yet what is their response? They ask for another sign. It’s almost as if they are saying, “Jesus, we know you fed us yesterday, but we don’t give a damn.”
This reaction mirrors the behavior of the Israelites in the first reading from Exodus. We heard them today grumbling to Moses about their lack of food. They’re saying that when they were in Egypt, they were able to eat their fill. On the surface, we can miss how outrageous a comment that really was. Yes, back when they were in Egypt. Back when they were slaves. Back when they were being used as instruments and tools, when they were abused physically, emotionally and spiritually… God had come to liberate them in astounding signs and amazing feats which took them, a poor and subjugated race and leveled this mighty, global Egyptian force with plagues and oh yeah, the parting of the red sea which provided their escape into freedom as well as completely swallowed up the Egyptian forces who had pursued them. It’s almost as if they’ are saying Lord God, we know you freed us from slavery and saved us from our foes, but we don’t give a damn.
It can sound jarring, but in effect that’s what they’re saying. In the midst of the present problem, the current storm, the latest crisis – there’s this knee jerk human reaction to think God doesn’t care, He’s forgotten, He’s not listening or responding. Jesus had just proven pretty spectacularly that He did in fact more than give a damn for the hungry crowds; as did the Lord God to His chosen people in the wilderness.
But it’s not just about these people in the scriptures, is it? We know how this human tendency to forget past blessings and focus on immediate needs can happen. I’m embarrassed at the times it happens to me, for sure. It highlights our tendency to view our relationship with God in transactional terms.
Yet, God’s patience is unwavering. He continues to care for us, even when we are ungrateful or blind to His past deeds. His love remains constant, and He continues to offer Himself to us, most profoundly in the Eucharist. Reflecting on these readings, we are invited to consider our own response to God’s love. Do we acknowledge and appreciate the depth of His sacrifice and care? Are we moved by the reality of the Eucharist, where we receive the very Body and Blood of Christ? Does this truth impact our lives, or do we, like the crowds, fail to recognize the significance of what we have been given?
God offers this gift so lavishly, the ordinariness of this miracle can sometimes cause us to fall into lukewarmness. Yet, even with that, God still takes that risk of being judged by us, the Creator evaluated by creatures with the hopes that something will break through. That’s amazing the more you think of it. Reminds me of this beautiful observation that Pope Francis made during World Youth Day in Krakow, 2016. He said “[God] loves us even more than we love ourselves. He believes in us even more than we believe in ourselves. He is always ‘cheering us on’; He is our biggest fan. He is there for us, waiting with patience and hope, even when we turn in on ourselves and brood over our troubles and past injuries.”
As we continue our journey through John 6, let us open our hearts to the profound gift of the Eucharist. May we not only recognize the miracles of the past but also be transformed by the living presence of Christ among us. Let us not be like the crowds who sought only their next meal, but rather like Aaron Lustiger, who encountered the depth of God’s love and allowed it to change his life forever.
What will our story be?
