We watch the Olympics because we want to witness athletes do incredible feats. Conan Rainwater, SJ, reflects on how we can all do spectacular things through Christ. Based on the readings from the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Can you do spectacular things?
Hi, I’m Conan Rainwater, and this is my One-Minute Reflection.
The summer Olympics remind us that people can do extraordinary feats. Sure, I can run, but not like Sha’Carri Richardson. I can swim, but not like Michael Phelps.
In today’s gospel, people are following Jesus like we can follow our favorite athletes. The crowd had just seen Jesus multiply five barley loaves and two fish, yet the people weren’t satisfied.
Just as we’re hungry to learn techniques from athletes so as to imitate them, the crowd is hungry to learn from Jesus. They ask him for another sign so that they may believe in him. Jesus says he is the one who gives life to the world. How? He is the Bread of Life. While Olympic athletes do spectacular feats, Jesus does the miraculous.
Jesus gives his life to us which we remember each time we gather around the altar. Jesus is broken and shared so that we too may be broken and shared for others. When we do that, we too can be capable of spectacular things.
