Our Invitation to the Table of Lady Wisdom

Our Invitation to the Table of Lady Wisdom
20^th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
(Proverbs 9: 1-6; Psalm 34; Ephesians 5: 15-20; John 6: 51-58)

Proverbs and all Biblical Wisdom Literature depict wisdom as a woman. “Lady Wisdom” or ‘Sophia’ in Greek, has built her house, set her table and invites her guests to a special banquet. "Come, eat of my food and drink the wine I have mixed!" Like specially prepared food, Wisdom serves practical knowledge and understanding to her guests, teaching them to discern what is right and good. She guides her guests in right living. If you were to read chapter nine of proverbs in its entirety you would see an alternative to Lady Wisdom – ‘Dame’ Folly. Wisdom and Folly are both beckoning those who are seeking the food of knowledge – Both are attractive, but wisdom requires you to wait and be patient as she prepares the fine banquet – but as any fine dining experience, it is worth it and is very nourishing... Folly on the other hand serves her fair quickly, but it is poison and leads to destruction… The choice should be easy for us as we walk down the road of life. But our problem is that both ladies ‘restaurants’ are attractive to us on the surface. The choice of wisdom or folly actually requires the grace of discernment to make the right choice… or the grace to get up and leave Folly behind and seek Wisdom.

Lady Wisdom’s banquet and gifts are not reserved for just a privileged few; “All are invited.” Servants have been sent out to the guests. She invites those who are "simple" to come to her feast; those eager to learn. The food she offers provides understanding for right living, she makes us "friends of God and the prophets" (Wisdom 7: 27).
Last Sunday, our gospel passage (John 6: 41-51) focused on the first part of the ‘Bread of Life Discourse.’ There, Jesus is presented as the bread from heaven – the new manna. That part of the discourse ended with a Eucharistic theme as Jesus identified the bread from heaven as his own flesh. Today the Bread of Life Discourse continues with an even more direct Eucharistic interpretation. Jesus says he is “the Bread from Heaven” and, "The bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world."

Jesus declares that his flesh is food and his blood drink for us. In his language "flesh and blood" represents the human being in very literal terms. Applied to Jesus this concept has several meanings. It refers to his taking on flesh and blood in the Incarnation. It also stirs up images of the sacrificial animals slaughtered and eaten in the Temple. So he is the sacrificial victim and our food and drink.

Previously the reference to the bread from heaven had to do with believing in Jesus, the one sent by God. Now, in today’s reading, eternal life comes to us by our literally feeding on Jesus. Those who "feed on me will have life because of me." Eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Christ gives us a share in eternal life and a promise of our salvation. Jesus shares eternal life with his Father and we get to share in that life because we feed on him, He is the bread of life.

In the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke) we read about the institution of the Eucharist in the ‘Last Supper narratives’. But in John the Eucharist and its effects are explained for us in chapter 6. John 6 is the core of our Eucharistic Theology and is essential to understand our Church’s teaching on the sacrament we call our ‘source and summit.’ From the two parts of the Bread of Life Discourse we can say that Christ is present and gives himself to us in a twofold way: First in the Word and then in his real presence in the sacrament of the Eucharist. Our church continues this twofold structure of Word and Sacrament in our Mass, as has been happening since the First Century.
When I teach about the Eucharist in the RCIA or to those preparing as adults for Confirmation I always begin with John Chapter 6 – then we move on the synoptic gospels and the Last Supper Narrative – “Take and Eat, this IS my Body”… “Take and Drink, this IS my Blood.” Then we move to 1^st Corinthians11: 23-29, where Paul warns not to abuse the Eucharist…

“For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, “This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes.

Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment* on himself.”

As early as the second century we have the witness of St. Justin Martyr for the basic order of the Eucharistic celebration. They have stayed the same until our own day. St. Justin wrote in his defense to the pagan Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius (138-161) around the year 155, explaining what Christians did:

“On the day we call the day of the sun, all who dwell in the city or country gather in the same place. The memoirs of the apostles and the writings of the prophets are read, as much as time permits. When the reader has finished, he who presides over those gathered admonishes and challenges them to imitate these beautiful things.
Then we all rise together and offer prayers* for ourselves... and for all others, wherever they may be, so that we may be found righteous by our life and actions, and faithful to the commandments, so as to obtain eternal salvation.

When the prayers are concluded we exchange the kiss.

Then someone brings bread and a cup of water and wine mixed together to him who presides over the brethren. He takes them and offers praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and for a considerable time he gives thanks (in Greek: eucharistian) that we have been judged worthy of these gifts.

When he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all present give voice to an acclamation by saying: ‘Amen.’

When he who presides has given thanks and the people have responded, those whom we call deacons give to those present the “eucharisted” bread, wine and water and take them to those who are absent.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1345)

As we heard in our first reading, Wisdom has spread a table of choice food and drink. She has invited the "common people" to dine at her table. At the Eucharist in which we will share in a few minutes we have accepted the invitation of Sophia! We come seeking a wisdom we need for right daily living – the food that will give us everlasting life and as Proverbs says - "…advance [us] in the way of understanding."

The Eucharist is meant to empower all of us who dine in wisdom to go into the world with the life of Christ we have received. To faithfully partake of the supper of the lamb in his flesh and blood is truly to have opened the door to wisdom in the Holy Spirit. Let us all pray to receive Christ today and as we return to our seats in our time of thanksgiving after communion, let us ask him for the gift of wisdom to know how to do His will in our particular life’s calling. And thank him for this gift of his body and blood – “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.”

Amen