FORSAKE FOOLISHNESS | The Word Exposed with Cardinal Tagle (August 18, 2024)

Summary

In this episode of 'The Word Exposed,' the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time is celebrated with a reflection on Jesus as the 'bread of life.' The homily explores the wisdom offered in the readings, particularly the concept of forsaking foolishness in favor of divine wisdom. The discussion highlights the importance of discerning God's will through the Holy Spirit and emphasizes the transformative power of the Eucharist. The episode concludes with a message on the grace of old age, encouraging the elderly to continue their spiritual journey through prayer and intercession.

Takeaways

• 📖 The Gospel reflects on Jesus's discourse about being the living bread that came down from heaven, offering eternal life to those who partake in His flesh and blood.
• 🧠 The first reading from Proverbs emphasizes wisdom, encouraging people to forsake foolishness and seek understanding through spiritual nourishment.
• 🙏 The second reading from Ephesians calls for careful living, urging believers to be filled with the Spirit and to live wisely, discerning God's will.
• 🥖 Jesus's statement about being the bread of life confused many listeners, as they struggled to understand the concept of eating His flesh for eternal life.
• 💡 Wisdom is personified in the readings, offering a banquet of spiritual nourishment that leads to a deeper understanding of God and His will.
• 🍷 St. Paul advises against indulgence in worldly pleasures, instead encouraging believers to seek the Holy Spirit for true wisdom and discernment.
• 🎯 The Gospel emphasizes that true life comes from accepting Jesus's offering of His flesh and blood, which may seem foolish to some but is the path to eternal life.
• 🏡 The importance of the Eucharist is highlighted, as it represents Jesus's real presence and the ultimate act of love and unity with humanity.
• 🌿 Old age is viewed as a time of grace, where the elderly can deepen their faith and continue to respond to God's call through prayer and intercession.
• 👵 The elderly are encouraged to see themselves as a blessing to their families, communities, and the church, contributing wisdom, prayer, and presence.

Q & A

What is the main theme of the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time according to the script?

The main theme is Jesus's discourse on the bread of life, where He proclaims that He is the living bread that came down from heaven and emphasizes the importance of eating His flesh and drinking His blood to have eternal life.

Why were Jesus's listeners confused by His proclamation about the bread of life?

Jesus's listeners were confused because they could not understand how He could give them His flesh to eat. This idea seemed strange and incomprehensible to them.

How does the script explain the concept of 'eating Jesus's flesh and drinking His blood'?

The script explains that 'eating Jesus's flesh and drinking His blood' symbolizes a deep spiritual communion with Jesus, particularly through the Eucharist, where believers receive Jesus's body and blood in the form of bread and wine.

What is the significance of the 'wisdom' mentioned in the first reading from the Book of Proverbs?

The 'wisdom' in the Book of Proverbs is personified and portrayed as preparing a banquet. Wisdom invites people to forsake foolishness and to eat and drink from her table, which symbolizes gaining understanding and living a life aligned with God's will.

How does St. Paul relate to the theme of wisdom in his letter to the Ephesians?

St. Paul urges the Ephesians to live wisely, not foolishly, by understanding the will of the Lord. He advises them to avoid debauchery, be filled with the Spirit, and to communicate with one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.

What is the connection between the wisdom from the Book of Proverbs and the Holy Spirit mentioned by St. Paul?

Both wisdom from the Book of Proverbs and the Holy Spirit mentioned by St. Paul guide believers to discern and follow God's will. Wisdom offers spiritual nourishment that leads to a deeper understanding of God, while the Holy Spirit provides the strength to live in accordance with this wisdom.

Why does the script emphasize 'forsaking foolishness'?

The script emphasizes 'forsaking foolishness' to encourage believers to seek true wisdom, which is understanding and following God's will, rather than pursuing false teachings or desires that lead away from spiritual growth and salvation.

What does the script say about the relationship between Jesus's incarnation and the concept of the bread of life?

The script highlights that Jesus's incarnation—God becoming flesh—is central to understanding the bread of life. Jesus offers His flesh as a gift from God for the salvation of humanity, and believers are called to accept this gift by partaking in the Eucharist.

How does the script address the doubts of Jesus's listeners regarding His teachings?

The script acknowledges that Jesus's teachings sounded foolish to His listeners because they were not yet able to see the spiritual significance behind His words. Jesus's discourse on the bread of life challenged their understanding and required a leap of faith to comprehend its deeper meaning.

What role do the elderly play in the church, according to the script?

According to the script, the elderly have a special role in the church as transmitters of faith, intercessors, and spiritual guides. They are called to pray, intercede, and remain spiritually active, continuing to contribute to the church community despite their age.

Outlines

00:00

📖 Understanding Jesus as the Bread of Life

The video begins by discussing the Gospel reading for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, focusing on Jesus’s discourse about being the 'living bread' that grants eternal life. Despite confusion among Jesus's listeners at the time, who couldn't understand how he could give them his flesh to eat, the reflection reveals that this teaching becomes clearer through the Last Supper and the crucifixion. Believers are encouraged to seek spiritual wisdom to fully accept Jesus into their lives.

05:01

📜 Wisdom’s Banquet and Living Wisely

The second paragraph centers on the first reading from the Book of Proverbs, where wisdom is depicted as preparing a lavish banquet for those who seek understanding. The passage urges listeners to forsake foolishness and embrace wisdom, which leads to a life aligned with God's will. St. Paul's letter to the Ephesians echoes this sentiment, advising Christians to live wisely and avoid debauchery, instead filling themselves with the Holy Spirit, which nurtures discernment and a deeper connection to God's will.

10:05

💡 Forsaking Foolishness for Spiritual Wisdom

This section further explores the theme of spiritual nourishment through wisdom and the Holy Spirit. The reflection emphasizes the importance of discerning the 'food' we consume, not just physically but spiritually. By turning to the wisdom of God and being guided by the Holy Spirit, believers can develop the ability to discern and act according to God's will, thus leading a life filled with true understanding and wisdom.

15:10

🍞 The Wisdom in Jesus's Offer of His Flesh

The fourth paragraph reflects on the Gospel reading where Jesus offers his flesh as the bread of life. This teaching initially perplexed his listeners, but the reflection explains that it symbolizes the incarnation and the ultimate sacrifice on the cross. Jesus's flesh, offered in the Eucharist, is presented as the true nourishment that leads to eternal life, embodying God's love and wisdom. Believers are invited to contemplate and embrace this profound act of divine love.

20:11

🙏 The Vocation and Value of the Elderly

This part of the video shifts focus to the elderly, highlighting their ongoing role in the Church. Despite their age, elders are seen as a vital source of prayer, wisdom, and faith. The reflection, drawing on teachings from Pope Francis and Pope Benedict XVI, emphasizes that no one retires from their spiritual duties. The elderly are encouraged to continue praying for their families and communities, as their prayers and presence are invaluable blessings.

25:13

🔥 A Prayer for Continued Mission and Service

The final paragraph is a prayer of gratitude for the program's mission and a plea for strength, courage, and renewed faith in continuing the work of spreading God's word. It asks for the Holy Spirit's guidance to overcome any limitations and weaknesses, ensuring that the mission of sharing the Gospel remains vibrant and impactful. The reflection closes with a blessing for the viewers and an invitation to join in the program's future broadcasts.

Keywords

💡Bread of Life

The 'Bread of Life' is a central concept in the video, referring to Jesus' declaration in the Gospel that He is the living bread that came down from heaven. This phrase symbolizes spiritual nourishment and eternal life, as Jesus offers His flesh and blood to believers. The video emphasizes that this idea initially confused Jesus' listeners but is later understood in the context of the Eucharist, where bread represents Jesus' body.

💡Wisdom

Wisdom is personified in the video, particularly in the first reading from the Book of Proverbs. Wisdom is depicted as a host preparing a banquet, inviting people to partake in her feast to gain understanding and live according to God's will. The video contrasts true wisdom, which leads to spiritual growth, with 'false wisdoms' or temptations that lead to ruin.

💡Foolishness

The concept of 'foolishness' is explored in contrast to wisdom. The video discusses how people often choose paths that seem appealing but ultimately lead away from God and toward spiritual death. This is highlighted in the first reading and reiterated by St. Paul in the second reading, urging believers to avoid foolish behavior and instead seek the wisdom that comes from understanding God’s will.

💡Eucharist

The Eucharist is a recurring theme in the video, representing the sacrament where believers partake in the body and blood of Christ. The video ties Jesus' discourse on the Bread of Life to the Last Supper, where He offered bread and wine as His body and blood. This act is seen as the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise to give His flesh for the life of the world, offering eternal life to those who believe.

💡Incarnation

The Incarnation refers to the belief that Jesus, the Son of God, became human. The video explains that this concept is key to understanding the mystery of the Eucharist and Jesus’ offering of His flesh. The Incarnation underscores that God's gift of salvation is not abstract but comes through Jesus' real human presence, which believers encounter in the Eucharist.

💡Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is mentioned as a source of true wisdom and guidance. In the second reading, St. Paul contrasts being drunk on wine with being filled with the Holy Spirit, which leads to discernment and understanding of God’s will. The video emphasizes that spiritual wisdom and the ability to live according to God’s purpose are gifts of the Holy Spirit.

💡Proverbs

The Book of Proverbs is cited in the first reading, where wisdom is personified as a woman preparing a banquet. This passage is used in the video to illustrate how true wisdom invites people to abandon foolishness and embrace understanding and spiritual growth. The video draws connections between this wisdom and the call to partake in the Eucharist.

💡Spiritual Nourishment

Spiritual nourishment is a key concept throughout the video, representing the sustenance believers receive from Jesus, the Bread of Life. The video contrasts this nourishment with the physical food and drink that people typically seek, emphasizing that only Jesus’ body and blood can truly satisfy the soul and lead to eternal life.

💡Discernment

Discernment is the ability to perceive and act according to God’s will. The video discusses how wisdom leads to discernment, which helps believers avoid the traps of foolishness. St. Paul’s advice to the Ephesians to live wisely and make the most of opportunities is highlighted as an example of how discernment is essential for spiritual growth and living a life aligned with God’s purpose.

💡Flesh and Blood

The phrase 'flesh and blood' is used in the video to emphasize Jesus’ invitation for believers to partake in His body and blood, symbolizing His real presence in the Eucharist. The video explains how this concept initially seemed scandalous to Jesus’ listeners, but is ultimately revealed as the means through which eternal life is given to those who believe in Him and follow His teachings.

Highlights

The Gospel continues with Jesus's discourse on the bread of life, focusing on the meaning of eating His flesh and drinking His blood.

Jesus's claim, 'I am the living bread that came down from heaven,' was confusing to many of His listeners at the time.

Jesus’s teaching about eating His flesh and drinking His blood becomes clearer in the context of the Last Supper and His sacrifice on the cross.

The First Reading from the Book of Proverbs personifies wisdom as a woman who prepares a banquet, inviting all to partake in the meal that nurtures wisdom.

Wisdom's invitation is contrasted with the false wisdom that leads to folly and spiritual death.

The Psalm emphasizes tasting and seeing the goodness of the Lord, highlighting the importance of glorifying and seeking the Lord.

In the Second Reading, St. Paul urges the Ephesians to live wisely, making the most of every opportunity and understanding the will of the Lord.

St. Paul contrasts being filled with wine, leading to debauchery, with being filled with the Holy Spirit, leading to wisdom and discernment.

The Gospel reading from John reiterates that Jesus is the living bread from heaven, offering His flesh for the life of the world.

Jesus’s teaching on the Eucharist is a profound act of love and unity with humanity, symbolized by His sacrifice on the cross.

The concept of wisdom in the scriptures is linked to understanding and living according to God's will.

Jesus’s offer of His flesh as true food and His blood as true drink may seem foolish, but it is the ultimate expression of God's wisdom and love.

The importance of forsaking foolishness and choosing the wisdom of God, as illustrated by the readings and reflections.

Pope Francis highlights the role of the elderly in transmitting faith, praying, and being close to those in need, emphasizing that no one retires from being a member of the Church.

Pope Benedict XVI's reflection on old age as a time of grace, where the elderly continue to be a wealth for society through their wisdom, prayer, and presence.

Transcripts

[Music]

[Music]

chiao maai you are watching the word

exposed let us behold Jesus the word

incarnate revealing himself to us in the

Sunday readings today is the 20 th

Sunday in ordinary time and the gospel

continues to present to us Jesus's

discourse on the bread of

life Jesus's listeners at the time could

not make sense of his Proclamation I am

the living bread that came down from

heaven whoever eats this bread will live

forever and the bread that I will give

is my flesh for the life of the

world this confused to many of Jesus's

listeners for how could he give them his

flesh to eat but we know brothers and

sisters that Jesus's claim would become

clearer at the supper that anticipated

the offering of his body and blood on

the cross believing in Jesus's word

eating his flesh and drinking his blood

may sound foolish we pray for the grace

of spiritual wisdom so that we may

wholehearted heartedly welcome Jesus in

our

lives first reading a reading from The

Book of

Proverbs wisdom has built her house she

has set up her seven columns she has

dressed her meat mixed her wine yes she

has spread her table she has sent out

her maidens she calls from the heights

out over the city let whoever is simple

turn and hear to the one who lacks

understanding she says come eat of my

food and drink of the wine I have mixed

forsake foolishness that you may live

advance in the way of

understanding the word of the Lord

[Music]

tast and

see the

goodness of the

Lord taste and

see the

goodness of the

[Music]

Lord I Will Bless The Lord at all

times his praise shall be ever in my

mouth let my

soul glory in the

Lord the LLY will hear me and declare

taste and

see the goodness of the

Lord

glorify the Lord with

me let us together extol his

name I saw the Lord and he answered me

me and delivered me from all my

fears T and

see the goodness of the

Lord look to him that you may be ragent

with

joy and your faces may not flush with

shame

when the poor one called out the Lord

heard and from all his distress he saved

him taste and

see the goodness of the

Lord taste and

see the

goodness of the Lord

[Music]

second

reading a reading from the letter of St

Paul to the

Ephesians brothers and sisters watch

carefully how you live not as foolish

persons but as wise making the most of

the opportunity because the days are

evil therefore do not continue in

ignorance but try to understand what is

the will of the Lord and do do not get

drunk on wine in which lies debauchery

but be filled with the spirit addressing

one another in Psalms and hymns and

spiritual songs singing and playing to

the Lord in your hearts giving thanks

always and for everything in the name of

our Lord Jesus Christ to God the

Father the word of the Lord

forsake

[Music]

foolishness these words are taken from

the first reading forsake foolishness

and this is very much uh attuned to our

continuing reflection on the presence of

Jesus as bread of life especially in the

Eucharist forsake

foolishness in the first reading from

the book of of of proverbs

we find wisdom

personified wisdom prepares not only her

house but a s Sumptuous banquet no oh

the wisdom has prepared a good good meal

for people now and those who will uh

partake of that meal prepared by wisdom

will grow in

wisdom for the food that that wisdom

prepares is to nurture wisdom in

US wisdom which is the understanding of

God the desire to understand God and

God's

will so that life will be conducted

according to the will of God according

to one's knowledge of God and according

to love of God or what we call fear of

God which is always connected to wisdom

this is the food that wisdom offers to

us but

wisdom is very much aware that she has

competitors there are false wisdoms

false foods that appear very attractive

and people

eat the food that leads to piic and

drink uh uh drinks that will lead to a

loss of life that's why wisdom says

forsake

foolishness eat what I am preparing for

you this will lead you to a better life

this will lead you to understanding God

and your life will be life in God for

sake foolishness

we hope people will heed wisdom's

invitation and choose to visit the house

of wisdom and share in the banquet of

wisdom in the second reading St Paul

reminds the

efficience of a similar

reality and uh using even the image of

drink said uh please do not choose to

drink only

wine wine is good but uh there is

another

drink that you should be long longing

for and it is the holy

spirit so that you will be given a new

mind a new

mentality so that you could discern the

will of God

so again like a meal being prepared but

it is a meal that will nurture not only

physical health but will nurture

discernment

wisdom and it will happen when

we drink of the Holy Spirit and we pray

we give thanks to God and we are in

community my my dear brothers and

sisters H forsake

foolishness be Discerning not only with

the food that we eat but with the food

that we take not the physical food that

the food that we take to affect our

thinking our minds our attitudes our

capacity to discern turn to wisdom the

wisdom of God turn to the word of God

and according to St Paul turn to the

Holy Spirit the spirit of Jesus so that

following Jesus we may learn to discern

that's wisdom forsake foolishness

[Music]

the proclamation of the Holy Gospel

according to

John Jesus said to the crowds I am the

living bread that came down from heaven

whoever eats this bread will live

forever and the bread that I will give

is my flesh for the life of the

world the Jews quarreled among

themselves saying how can this man give

us his flesh to eat Jesus said to them

amen amen I say to you unless you eat

the Flesh of the son of man and drink

his blood you do not have life within

you whoever eats my flesh and drinks my

blood has eternal life and I will raise

him on the last day for my flesh is True

Food and my blood is true drink whoever

eats my flesh and drinks my blood

remains in me and I in him just as the

living father sent me and I have life

because of the father so also the one

who feeds on me will have life because

of me

this is the bread that came down from

heaven unlike your ancestors who ate and

still died whoever eats this bread will

Live

Forever The Gospel of the

Lord forsake

foolishness as I said at the beginning

of this reflection we took that

expression from the first reading from

The Book of Proverbs wisdom is offering

her house and her banquet to people

wisdom which is real food you know we we

think of food only in terms of bread

rice meat

vegetables and drink wine and water and

they're all good but there is also food

for our lives which is called wisdom

wisdom is understanding ing God's will

so that my life will be guided by that

understanding of God's will I Fall In

Love With God I I I am United with God

and that makes me a wise person do we

eat that food or do we prefer food that

leads to more

foolishness and that's the preoccupation

of St Paul in the second reading he says

don't act like people who are

ignorant you know you can take the drink

called the Holy Spirit drink of the holy

spirit so that you can discern the will

of

God that is wisdom Discerning the will

of God and acting according to the will

of God foolish people ignorant people

ignore God's ways they insist on their

own ways and that leads to more trouble

it doesn't lead to life it leads to

death so wisdom leads to life

foolishness leads to death in the gospel

which is a continuation of the Gospel

that we heard last week remember last

week Jesus offered to them you know the

bread of life which will is not like the

bread that perishes but it is UNP

perishable food and it leads to eternal

life the destination of life is eternity

and the food that will sustain us to

reach that goal is Jesus the bread of

life now here comes the

sequel so he he repeats that and then he

tells them that this bread no he the

bread of life

is his flesh for the life of the

world and those who eat of his flesh and

drink of his blood will have eternal

life if last week the people murmured

because he said that he came from the

father and their reaction was about he's

he's the son of Joseph he we know his

mother how come he can CL he claims that

he comes from heaven now he said how can

he give us his flesh to be eaten no so

it sounds

foolish to

them they don't see the wisdom of

God in the words of

Jesus in his offer of life in his

flesh he

tried he tried but when he when we look

at his uh teachings no we

see not just this

episode this conversation but a whole uh

picture Jesus sends he is sent by the

father he is the Eternal Word of God he

is the Son of God from all eternity but

God sends him in the flesh

what we call the

Incarnation the

life the

Salvation that God offers to us is not

just an idea it's not just a concept it

is not just an ideal it is his very son

in the

flesh like us except in

sin so the gift of the father is in the

flesh in the human flesh of Jesus

and the work that we have to do is to

believe in him and to receive his

flesh the flesh that he will offer

finally on the

cross but he will make it clear in the

supper before he died my body for you my

blood for you take this eat it take this

drink of it

and this will become clearer when his

body and

blood no will be there on the

cross he gives his

flesh as a gift of the father but we

have to eat it in the form of

bread but it is not just bread it is his

flesh it is his real

flesh an act of Love of unity with us it

may sound foolish but come to think of

it it is the

wisest wisest way to show love and

salvation on the part of God please

meditate and contemplate

forsake

foolishness the word has been exposed

let us now fulfill it

[Music]

old age as we realized last time is a

blessing and a privilege Pope Francis

further teaches us that old age is in a

particular way a time of grace in which

the Lord renews his call what is this

call friends it is the call to transmit

the faith to pray to intercede and to be

close to those who need it our elderly

might not formally recognize it but

whenever they pray for their family

members their elderly friends the church

and the world

they are responding to the Lord's call

to Faith prayer intercession and

solidarity this is because no one

retires from being a member of the

church in the communion of saints the

dead and the Saints remain members of

the community of Believers and we help

each other by praying for each other in

other words there is no age limit to

responding to God's call in fact old age

enables us to deepen our awareness of

God in

Christ Pope Benedict the 16th who during

his final years retired from the papal

office and devoted his time to prayer

once offered us a beautiful reflection

on living long and what we may call the

vocation of the elderly

[Music]

so brothers and sisters may we never let

our elders be it at home or at workplace

in society or in community to feel that

they are a loone or a burden because

they are no longer agile and productive

as before their wisdom prayer and

presence are a blessing to all of us and

we hope our our dear Elders you would

find spiritual comfort in knowing that

you remain a blessing to your family

your community and to the church we Echo

the words of Pope Benedict the 16th who

led the Catholic church in old age he

was 78 huh when he became Pope in

assuring our elderly you are a wealth

for society even in suffering and

sickness

[Music]

we have prepared reflection points for

you please share them with your

companions the first point is what are

the Contemporary foods and drinks that

lead to

ption the second point is how can we

guide the youth to find truth and wisdom

in Jesus's offer of his body and

[Music]

blood

[Music]

for Heavenly Father you have blessed

this humble program with a decade of

mission on air you have gifted it with

the talents hard work and financial

support of many generous people so that

as your word is exposed many more may

know love and serve

Jesus Lord Jesus be with us always your

production staff and partners your

viewers and

benefactors that we may not run out of

Courage Zeal and charity in fulfilling

our mission daily and when our

limitations and weaknesses surface

please ask the father to send the Holy

Spirit to purify us and set our hearts

on fire with renewed faith hope and love

so we may serve you for many more years

to come

amen friends thank you for your company

we pray that the word of God would find

fulfillment in your life and His

blessings be always upon you and we hope

you could be with us again next Sunday

here on the word exposed