Real Presence (John 6) (2024-08-18, Sunday-20)

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 Homily – August 18, 2024  19^th Sunday (Year B)   ● Proverbs 9:1-6 ●  Psalm 34 ●

● Ephesians 5:15-20  ● + John 6:51-58    ●

 [__01__]  A few months ago, when it was Mother’s Day,  I recalled an experience of my own mother coming to volunteer as tutor/teacher at my own school when I was in Grade 6.

          This was a particular volunteer opportunity in which my mother – as the tutor – was to meet with all the individual students to do an exercise in reading, punctuation, grammar. Each of us – the students or pupils in the class – left the room to meet my mother – “Mrs. Ferry” in a room down the hall for a one-on-one lesson.

          I knew that my mother was coming to school that day. This was an exceptional day and a good day and I was looking forward to seeing Mom.

          It was, at least for me, the equivalent of what happens in the workplace when you take a coffee break or call your family during an otherwise busy work day.

          And, so, I was regarding this 15 minute lesson with the visiting volunteer “Mrs. Ferry”- my mother – as NOT something serious and as a break from reality.

[__02__]   What is your attitude and mine toward the reality of God’s word and His Real Presence in Holy Communion and the fact that this is demonstrated to us under the form of bread and wine?

          This Sunday’s Gospel – and that of recent Sundays – focuses on Jesus’ Real Presence in the Eucharist.

          Jesus makes this startling revelation, especially for those who might think he speaking metaphorically or symbolically about His New Passover the Eucharist, stating: “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.” (John 6:__)

          In a sermon about Holy Eucharist, Father Ronald Knox of England observed that are always “deciding” – in everything we do or do not do – either to recognize God’s Presence or to reject God’s Presence.

          In other words, we are – at every moment – either “inside” as believers in God as the source of our being … or we are “outside” as atheists.

          I am not saying you are a fully “professed” atheist, but that sometimes we live and speak as though God did not exist, or as though our notions of LOVE are based purely in human effort and rational understanding.

          In the New Testament we read:  “We love because God first loved us” (1 John 4:19)

          In other words, for any of us to believe in the purity of love, the true standards of love, the objective truth of love, then there must be someone – this is God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit – who expresses this purity, standard, truth and objectivity to every human being, or at least to those with “ears to hear and eyes to see”.

[__03__]   This Gospel passage and message of Jesus is inviting his listeners to understand accept his identity.

          Regarding the Holy Eucharist  - Holy Communion – Father Ronald Knox observed this about the sacramental ritual and what can see and what we cannot see.

          That is, we might be inclined to see that Jesus introduced Holy Eucharist in order to give us some kind of super-charged bread by consecration.

          Rather he starts off with his Body and Blood holds up the Sacred Host  which appears to be bread and says, this is my body given up for you.

          The bread is not designed to appear as holiness personified. Rather, Jesus’ holiness personified is presented to us under the form of bread.

          What I am trying to explain is the revelation our Lord is making of “transubstantiation” in which the underlying substance of the bread is transformed into His Body and Blood, which are invisible, and meanwhile the taste, color and appearances of the bread remain.

          This is the classic definition of a sacrament: a visible sign of an invisible reality.

 [__04__]  All of the sacraments of the Church are based on the Eucharist and this invisible reality.

          A parallel in both practical and spiritual sense is the bond of matrimony between husband and wife.

          By getting married and profession of their vows in church before a deacon or priest, the relationship’s substance is transformed but the outward appearance may be the same.

          Also, even if by “outward appearance”, the relationship is evaluated favorably or unfavorably, this does not change the inward reality of their bond.

“What God hath joined, let no man put asunder.”

          It takes dedication and faith and prayer by both husband and wife – to live with honesty, uprightness and respect for each other.

          Of course, by getting married, this respect is legally documented and officially sanctioned because – for example – the spouses share and own property together and they also automatically “inherit” legally from each other.

          But they also are not just heirs and inheritors one to the other, but also jointly together they are journeying toward a heavenly reward.

          The spouses are called to help each other to reach Heaven.

[__05__]  The host in Holy Communion – which is the Body of Christ – is meant to remind us not of bread alone but of a heavenly reward made possible because Jesus gave up his body, rose from the dead in His body.

          When we say AMEN upon receiving Holy Communion, Jesus – through the priest is not only telling you that this is His Body, but also testing you.

          Do you believe?            Do I believe? Do we treat others with love and respect based on this belief in our connection through the Body of Christ.

          It would be easier to believe in a metaphor, but Jesus did not die metaphorically or symbolically on the Cross. This was and is His Body given up for you.

 [__06__]  Recently, I recalled the school and Grade 6 episode with my mother and told my father about this whole experience relating, “I thought that when I went into the room with Mom that we were going to chill, to relax – but Mom was all business. She was serious. And this surprised me”.

          My father’s perspective on this test experience: “Mom was grilling you!”

 [__07__] Jesus, in the Bread of Life discourse of John Chapter 6 and in the Last Supper Gospel was also reading to, remembering and prayer, and re-testing His disciples to recognize Him as their Savior, body and blood, soul and divinity.

          And…to remember that their salvation does not come in material things and that He is the true bread come down from heaven, to help them recognize His Presence as a “Last Supper” which has is still going on as we speak. [__end__]   

Assumption BVM (2024-08-15)

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Homily – August 15, 2024  Assumption  ● Revelation 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab●  Psalm 45 ●

● 1 Corinthians 15:20-27 ● + Luke 1:39-56 ●

 

[__01__]   Recently, a friend of mine told me of his travel plans, together with his family to visit London and Paris. And he is hoping to visit, while in northern France, Normandy Beach, the location of the Allied invasion into France and a successful battle and turning point to bring an end to World War 2.

          This year is the 80^th anniversary of the Normandy invasion. It was at the 40^th anniversary of the Normandy invasion that TV journalist Tom Brokaw felt inspired to start and write his book – The Greatest Generation – about those who came of age during World War 2 and which reported heroic sacrifices not only by soldiers who landed at Normandy Beach and other zones of combat but also women and men – civilian and military – by whom World War 2 was fought – on many fields of battle.

 

[__02__]  It is logical for my friend – or any of us – to witness to Normandy by going there, by seeing it for ourselves and to pray that those who died would have received the crown of righteousness and a heavenly reward.

          The Normandy monuments and cemetery recall this. Over 100,000 soldiers –both Allied and German – died at Normandy and are buried in the cemetery.

          The Normandy cemetery is just one example – other memorials exist – more recently for the wildfires in Maui, the 9/11 terrorist attacks and more and we remember those who died in a heroic manner and certain places become sacred and revered as a result.  [● ●]

 [__03__]  In the Gospel on this Feast day of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we read of Mary’s heroic journey to the hill country of Judea to be with her relative/cousin Elizabeth.

          Both Mary and Elizabeth are expecting the birth of a child. Mary is be the mother of God, of Jesus our Savior.

          Elizabeth is the mother of John the Baptist, the prophet who announces Jesus as the “Behold Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29, 1:36)

 

[__04__]  Each woman – Elizabeth and Mary – in her own way – was facing danger and uncertainty and meets her situation with faith in Almighty God.

          Mary has been found to be with child by the overshadowing of the Holy Spirit. Yet, this remarkable fact was not published immediately, but remained a concealed mystery for some time.

          Some biblical commentators have remarked that the reason Mary is betrothed/engaged to be  married to Joseph serves not just to provide Jesus a male role model and father figure but also conceals – for now – his miraculous birth without an earthly father.

          But, the revelation of his miraculous birth would be delayed. Satan, the evil spirt, would have delighted in knowing this fact early on so he could set out to destroy the child.

And, Herod also set out to detroy the child. Thus we have the martyrdom of the innocent children.

          Jesus-Mary-Joseph – JMJ – were hard to find. They looked like everyone else.

 

[__05__]   Nevertheless, from early on Mary – together with Joseph – had to fight, had to keep moving and turn to God for counsel and strength.

In this regard, the Holy Family did not look like anyone else.

 

[__06__]  The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary – body and soul – into heaven – is a recognition of her connection to Jesus as the Son of God and the Word of God.  Mary in her own body and person is the Temple, the new Temple and tabernacle of the covenant.  [● ●]

 [__07__]  The reason that the ancient people of Israel – the Jewish people – built a Temple structure was to recognize that they had made it to the Promised Land and they could rest from the labor of carrying the Ark of the Covenant. The ark of covenant – God’s word in the commandments – would be in the Temple structure.

          Mary is the new Temple containing and nurturing Jesus as the Word of God and allowing him to be sent out into the world.

          Just as God’s word was not really contained or confined in the first Temple footprint, the Word of God is not confined to Mary, though she is the very first disciple and “parishioner” of God’s new one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.

         

 

[__08__]  Pope Benedict XVI (B16) in an article about what it means to preach – or for one’s soul to proclaim the greatness of God – remarks that we have to be careful not to be too absolute in our perceptions or attitudes toward the present moment.

          B16 calls this the “absolutizing” or “absoluteness” of human power.  Do we not have a reason to fear those who wield “absolute power”?

          From a moral standpoint, we might view ourselves as morally upright just based on what is possible not based on what is real. (https://www.catholiceducation.org/en/religion-and-philosophy/philosophy/the-absolutization-of-man.html)

 [__09__]  It is true that we live an uncertain world and we may have fears about what is coming next – whether that is from the next appointment with the doctor or political debate.

          Perhaps, we think that earlier generations – some of whom have been described as “great” – maybe even had it easier than we do. Or we imagine that there were earlier moments in our lives that were not so tough.

          But, to take Normandy Beach as an example, that was not – as basketball fans say – a “slam dunk”.

          Mary’s life of heroic virtue – looking back may seem simple but was not easy.

          Her life called her not to be aware of the mysteries unfolding – the Annunciation, Visitation, Nativity – but not to be entangled in them. She had to look ahead – even to look beyond the Crucifixion of her son and to continue to say Yes.

          And, to give you and me a reason also to say YES so that God’s word might be nurtured and born from us as well. To recognize that we – like Mary- are not the Saviors of the world, but called to witness to Him …

          To recognize Jesus even if others ignore Him.

          To repent of our sins even if others ignore His mercy .. so that we will also with him body and sould in heaven and to give thanks the Lord still looks with favor on his lowly servants because the Almighty has done great things for us and holy is His name. (cf. Luke 1:39-56) [__end__]   

The Word. Passwords. (2024-08-11, Sun-19)

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Homily – August 11, 2024  19^th Sunday (Year B)  ● 1 Kings 19:4-8 ●  Psalm 34 ● ● Ephesians 4:30-5:2  ● + John 6:41-51 ●  

 Bibliography: Benedict XVI, Verbum Domini (Apostolic Exhortation), 30 September 2010.

https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_ben-xvi_exh_20100930_verbum-domini.html

 

[__01__]  When I was visiting my cousin’s house for the very first time recently, I asked to Wi-Fi, the wireless internet signal in their home.  I wanted to be “informed” of the “network name” and “password” for my phone and laptop.

But, my cousin didn't know what it was, so he called 1 of his children. Whenever you don't know something technical or computer-related, it's a good idea to ask someone younger, but you probably already know this!

Passwords – and PIN codes – are valuable. They “inform” and provide the key to allow us to perform in our lives and, perhaps, to transform our lives.

It was transforming me in that moment when I got the password and the network for the Wi Fi, the opposite is also true.

[__02__]   When you and I don't know the password, we can be frustrated spinning our wheels and we need a reset or a clue.

On the television TV show, situation comedy, The Office, the main character and boss, Michael is often making some sort of comic error. But he also has comic solutions to his problems.

This was his idea for computers and passwords. Michael announced this, “I'm going to change all my passwords to the word ‘incorrect’ ”. That way, when I type in the wrong password, the screen message will tell me your password is “incorrect”.

In any case, passwords are not only “inform”, they also perform. So passwords not only inform, but they also perform.

[__03__]   There is a connection connection between this and the words of Pope Benedict, the 16th, who wrote that God's word the gospel good news. (Verbum Domini, 30 September 2010) is not only informing us, but performing in our lives and transforming our lives. And this relates to Jesus's startling revelation in John Chapter 6 today, in which he concludes with this statement, “the bread that I will give is my life for the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.”

(John 6:51)

One of the challenges to us in reading John Chapter 6 is that we might be tempted to take Jesus's words about his flesh and blood as metaphorical or symbolic or just as an analogy.

Throughout John chapter 6, when Jesus is challenged and asked, “Do you really mean you're going to give us your flesh to eat, your body and blood to consume?”

Jesus says, Yes, this is what I'm going to do. Jesus does this not to make an exaggeration of his suffering, but to make a true explanation for his suffering and the nails in his hands and the death on the cross.

[__04__]   In another place in the Gospel, Jesus says, in Mark 8:31, the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders in chief priests and scribes.

Jesus is doing this to fulfill the requirement that someone must pay the debt of sinfulness to God, starting out with the  original debt of Adam and Eve’s sinfulness

There are sins throughout the ages. There are your sins, my sins, and Jesus gives up his life to die for us. This is my body given up for you. This does not mean that we live in a world without sinfulness or without sins. There are still sins and sinfulness, but our suffering in this life is temporary. Our suffering is not going to be eternal. So Jesus has informed, performed and transformed our existence by his suffering, death and resurrection.

Jesus has informed, performed and transformed our existence by his suffering, death and resurrection.

 

 [__06__]    This is echoed in our reading from Ephesians chapter 4 today, in which we are called to imitate Christ in our bodies, to put on a new person, to imitate Christ in our body, soul.

          When we receive Holy Communion – the bread of life – Jesus comes to us and is within us

We are called to recognize– by his presence and hope and faith – that it is possible - though it may not be easy -- to refuse to let anger and pain master us and overcome us.

He must increase, you and I must decrease.

About “anger”, Paul famously wrote in Ephesians chapter 4, do not let the sun set on your anger and wrath. In other words, calling us to pardon and to forgive quickly, rapidly.

This to show mercy quickly, rapidly, this call to pardon and to Mercy is not just a matter of informing someone that Our Mercy, because sometimes we're called to pardon those who don't even know they have offended us or have trespassed against us.

Because mercy is not just about informing, it's also about performing and taking up our cross each day and then being transformed.

This is also one of these things – similar to computer passwords and technical things – that children can retain and do very well. A little child can teach us what the “word” is not just the password, but also God’s word.

As a child and young person, were you easier on yourself and easier on others and more likely to forgive rapidly, not to let the sun set on your anger?

As we get older, we may get accustomed to storing up anger and resentment. Sometimes, it even makes us feel good! Or, we associate “anger” with “inner strength”.

Children know this is not the “correct” internal password. Rather, we are called to store up “mercy” and see the good in others rather than minimizing the good we see in others and maximizing the good or strength in ourselves.

A frequently quoted verse is that there is something out there that “covers a multitude of sins”. We use that expression a lot – maybe we think “wealth covers a multitude of sins“ ….”attractiveness covers a multitude of sins” …. Or “power covers a multitude of sins”.  None of these is the Gospel – the Gospel Good News is that “love covers a multitude of sins”.

Is it not true that when someone sees the true goodness in you, when you are forgiven, that this helps you to do as Paul wrote in Ephesians – to put on the new man, the new person, the new woman, the new identity.

Love covers a multitude of sins.

[__05__]   This coming Thursday, August 15, is the Solemnity and Holy Day of Obligation of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

There is Mass at 7am, at 8:30am in the morning, and also 7pm in the evening.

Now the assumption the Blessed Virgin Mary is different from the Ascension of Our Lord after Easter.

The reason for the assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary is based on the ancient Christian tradition that Mary, our Blessed Mother, did not suffer death and receive a burial in the way you and I will.

The Mystery of Mary as having been conceived without Original Sin and later assumed into heaven is really less about Mary and more about the identity of Jesus, Christ, who was conceived of the Virgin Mary, and who exists as our Savior, as a divine person with a human nature and human flesh.

Jesus is the second person of the Trinity who humbly accepted being born, Born of the Virgin Mary, being born in Bethlehem.  This is the Incarnation of God among us.

And Jesus feels everything we feel. He feels hunger, thirst, pain, frustration, anger, all without sinfulness.

 

[__07__]    The coming Feast of the assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary reminds us, as does the Holy Eucharist, that this transformation toward love and God does not end here on Earth, but it begins here, and even if there are sinful actions, sinful attitudes, these two can be healed by going to confession, by turning back to God and to His Word, they're turning back to God for to love God, to love our neighbor, even to love our enemies.

This assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary reminds us that God loves us, loves us both soul and body, and which is us to unite to Him in heaven, both soul and body. This is possible because Jesus is the Word made flesh, who has pitched his tent among us. His word informs, performs and transforms and his flesh in Holy Eucharist is also a sacred word for the life of a divided world that is greatly in need of his love and mercy.

[__end__]  

Food that Does not Perish / "Chariots of Fire" (2024-08-04, Sunday-18)

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Homily – August 4, 2024  18^th Sunday (Year B)   ● Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15 ●  Psalm 78 ● ● Ephesians 4:17, 20-24 ● + John 6:24-35 ●

 [__01__]   It is not unusual for sporting events, stars and competitions to take on an importance that surpasses the duration of the match itself, or lasts longer than the lifespan of the individual player. Recently, an American major league baseball player, very famous player, Willie Mays died, and his death reignited a debate as to whether he was really the greatest player of all time. Willie Mays has not played baseball since 1973. Many of the players in this "greatest of all time" category are also either deceased or long since retired.

But we can get invested  and interested in sports because they symbolize our own desire for mental sharpness, for physical fitness, for character and integrity.

We expect our stars to check the box on fitness, sharpness and character. Some may only do 1 or 2 of the 3.

[__02__]  I bring this up because there are dimensions to our earthly life which do signal and symbolize something about our hopes for heavenly reward and a life beyond this world.

Starting last Sunday and continuing the next several Sundays, Jesus is preaching to you and me about the meaning of a recent miracle in his day. This was the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves, and also an ancient miracle, which was the providing of manna in the desert for the Hebrew people to eat during their exodus to the promised land.

By the way, the word Manna

actually is a question, meaning, what is it? It doesn't mean “bread”, but “what is it?”

The people of Jesus's day were really impressed with the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves, but also UNSURE in the their own way about Jesus.  To answer their own questioning, they cheer for and they applaud for more, demand another miracle. We always want our stars to provide us with a command performance, another home run, touchdown, or sprint to the finish line.

 

[__03__]   Jesus turns to the crowd to correct them to remind them to look to Him, not just for material bread, but for spiritual, personal presence, which is not necessarily material in our lives.

And isn't it true that in our relationships we have with others, our loyalty and our dedication to each other is not simply shown by what we deliver or what we do, but also by doing the invisible things, the things behind the scenes, praying behind the scenes, doing the things that no one notices. It's true. Are you? Am I willing to accept and do this?

Are you and I willing to accept this role, to do this critical role, but sometimes unnoticed, supportive role, and to do so to build up a true team spirit the body of Christ?

Jesus says it this way:

“you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal” (John 6:__)

As Jesus says to Satan in the when Satan asked him to turn stones into bread, rocks into carbohydrates:  “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth in the mouth of God”.

 

[__04__] The Holy Eucharist and Holy Communion, therefore, is not just a meal or a memory, nor it is simply a famous painting as in Leonardo Da Vinci’s The Last Supper. (There was also divisiveness about the “betrayal” at the Last Supper).   Our Holy Communion is a divine vision of God's love, initiated by Christ’s words and actions: “this is my body given up for you.” His word of mercy goes out to all the world internationally as the greatest victory of all time. His victory and conquest is ours as well. And we are called to take up our cross, following his commandments to participate in this win. It is not just a ceremonial formality.

 

Jesus’ action, while depicted in painting and architecture, transcends the images themselves and any other icons. I bring this up because there was recent mockery made of Jesus and his apostles in the presentation in stage and dramatization of the Last Supper images at the Olympic opening ceremonies.

Such choices might by the Olympic Committee might be dismissed or disregarded as simply the secularity of sports. We do not expect sports to be our salvation, do we?

 

Then again, the Body and Blood of Christ are sacred and central to Christian faith. They are our not just part of our past but also our present. Just as you would be hurt if your mother or father or grandparents were insulted, this is not simply because they are older and perhaps more “fragile” than you are.  It is also because their life and blood flows through you.

 

And, you might be insulted if a friend or teacher or anyone who nurtured and loved you was insulted. They also form a part of you. The Last Supper, Jesus, and the Apostles remain a part of you today.  This is true even for those who do not believe in Christ. Jesus death occurred amid those who were rejecting him. This is His Body, given up for you.  “Forgive them, Father, they know not what they do.”  (Luke 23:34)

 

The Last Supper and the Lord’s Supper exceed in value the Arc de Triomphe or the Champs-Élysées. Neither of these icons – while recognized widely – truly unite those who see them as a family under God.

 

     Seeing such disrespect for the Gospel message, we are called to pray for those who oppose the faith in God and remember that no worldly achievement can eclipse the beauty of God's love. True excellence in fitness, wisdom, and character is exemplified by Jesus' sacrifice on the cross.

 

 

[__05__]   There were two Paris Olympics, athletes who really exemplified this.

They were runners on the track. They were, the subjects of the movie “Chariots of Fire”, a 1981 Academy Award winning-movie that took place as a result of the Paris Olympics, not the 2024 Olympics but the 1924 Olympics.

They were by name British runners. Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams, who competed for the United Kingdom in the 1924 Paris Olympics.

Each of them displayed character and integrity in their performance and carried a burden due to their religious identity. Harold Abraham's, a very strong and accomplished runner, was also Jewish, and he suffered in the 1920s due to anti semitism. He was known to be extremely nervous before every race

Eric Lydell, his Olympic teammate and competitor was also a devout Christian and from Scotland in the U.K.. Eric Lidell, found out, however, before the Olympics, that the that the precise day for the 100 meter event, the 100 meter dash was scheduled on a Sunday, the Sabbath, a day he was committed to not working but resting.

As a result, Eric Lidell decided to train for other events. And he actually won the gold medal in another event other than the 100 meters.

But Eric Liddell lost something, because, as you may know, the 100 meter event is the premier event in running. That's what everybody wants to win. Winning the 400 meters was not bad thing, but it wasn't as a high profile event. So he gave up something by not competing in the 100 meter event.

It turns out, Harold Abraham's won the 100 meter gold. Both won the gold medal at the Olympics.

[__06__]   Shortly after the Olympics in 1924, and earning the gold medal, Eric Lydell went to a calling as a  Christian missionary and teacher in China.  In fact, Eric Lydell had been born in China as parents of Christian missionaries.

He differed greatly from other Olympic stars of today who went on to great fame and fortune.  Today, gold medalists make lots of endorsement money immediately.

Eric Lidell was teaching and preach the gospel.

In the 1920’s and 1930’s, in China, Eric was able to teach peacefully while also becoming a track and field coach to young people, teaching the Bible and also science and mathematics

But, a greater teaching and learning challenge was to come.  In a few years, World War 2 started due to Japanese aggression in China and in the Pacific. Eric Lydell didn't become a soldier. He remained a missionary.  Everywhere, Eric Lidell taught the people to pray for their enemies.

 [][] Wikipedia: In 1941 life in China became very dangerous because of Japanese military aggression (WW 2) and the British government advised all British nationals to leave. The wife of Eric and his 2 daughters left. The wife of Eric was pregnant with their 3^rd child – whom he never met.

Eric Liddell accepted a position at a rural mission station (in Xiaozhang), which served the poor. Eric joined his brother, Rob, who was a medical doctor there. The station was severely short of help and the missionaries there were exhausted. A constant stream of locals came at all hours for medical treatment. Liddell arrived at the station in time to relieve his brother, who was ill and needing to go on furlough. Liddell suffered many hardships himself at the mission.

Internment

As fighting between the Chinese Army and invading Japanese troops reached Xiaozhang, the Japanese took over the mission … eventually, Eric Lidell was captured by the Japanese army and sent to an internment camp with other missionaries. Liddell became a leader and organiser at the camp, but food, medicine, and other supplies were scarce.

Wikipedia:  There were many cliques in the internment camp and when some rich businessmen managed to smuggle in some eggs, Liddell shamed them into sharing them. While fellow missionaries formed cliques, moralised, and acted selfishly, Liddell busied himself by helping the elderly, teaching Bible classes at the camp school, arranging games, and teaching science to the children, who referred to him as “Uncle Eric”.

Because of his birth and death in China, some of that China’s Olympic literature lists Eric Liddell as China's first Olympic gold medalist.

[][]

Eric Lidell died in February of 1945, 5 months before the end of the war and “liberation”.

But the message of Christ’s life in Eric Lidell and you and me is that freedom, “liberation” and satisfaction of hunger does not happen on only material terms.

Eric Lidell, true to the Gospel, did not work for the food that perishes,

A simple inscription at the University of Edinburgh, his alma mater, reads from the Book of Isaiah 40:31: "They shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary."

In 1945 he finished the race. You and I are urged to finish the race as well, to see in the Eucharist the bread of life, the body of Christ, leading us to one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:6)

[__end__]