Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION
	The Eucharist was never meant to be only “comfort food,” something that makes us feel warm and satisfied. It is to be bread for the journey, nourishment for the task that God has set for our community and for each one of us. Thus it is not surprising to see some walk away in today’s Gospel, for they understood that recognizing Jesus as the bread of life is a commitment to changing one’s life.
	St. Augustine, whose feast we celebrate this week, once observed that in celebrating the Eucharist we become what we receive, the Body of Christ. As we conclude the series of reflections in John’s Gospel on Jesus as the bread of life, it is appropriate to think about the role that the Eucharist plays in our lives and in our parish. It is in the Eucharist that we are nourished and renew our commitment in faith to serve the Lord. How does the parish social ministry carry out that mandate? How do you carry it out in your own life? Is it related in any way to the celebration of the Eucharist? How does celebrating Mass Sunday after Sunday make a difference in your life and in the world?
—Rev. James Field