19th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2024



 "Taste and see the goodness of the Lord!" 

This response from Psalm 34 today is an invitation to experience God deeply and personally. It’s a call to not just hear about God's goodness, but to taste it, to let it nourish and transform us.

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of visiting my friend Rob in San Diego, California. San Diego is famous for its tacos, and as soon as Rob picked me up from the airport, we headed straight to a taco restaurant right on the beach. 

The menu was filled with all sorts of options—some usual, like ground beef, chicken, and pork, and some unusual, like beef tongue, tripe, and octopus.

Now, I love tacos, especially beef tacos, but I had never tried octopus tacos before. Rob encouraged me, saying, "Try it; you'll love it!" 

I was hesitant at first, unsure if I would enjoy them, but I took a risk and ordered the octopus tacos. They turned out to be the most delicious tacos I've ever eaten. 

This experience taught me the value of stepping out of my comfort zone and trying something new.

This experience mirrors our spiritual journey. Just as I had to take a risk and try something new to discover the deliciousness of octopus tacos, we are called to take a risk and "taste and see the goodness of the Lord." 

In our Gospel today, Jesus says, "I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever." 

Jesus is offering Himself as the essential nourishment for our souls. To truly experience His goodness, we need to take the step of faith and partake in His life and teachings.

In our second reading, St. Paul urges us to "put away all bitterness, anger, wrath, shouting, and reviling, along with all malice" and to "be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ." 

Paul is essentially asking us to take a risk—to let go of negative behaviors and embrace the love and compassion of Jesus.

Here are a few ways we can take that risk and ensure we "taste and see" the goodness of the Lord:

  1. Step Out of Our Comfort Zone: Just as I stepped out of my comfort zone to try octopus tacos, we need to step out of our comfort zones spiritually. This might mean forgiving someone who has hurt us, showing kindness to a stranger, or dedicating more time to prayer and scripture.

  2. Replace Negative Behaviors: Paul calls us to let go of bitterness, anger, and malice. We can replace these with Christ-like behaviors: kindness, compassion, and forgiveness. This might feel risky because it requires vulnerability and humility, but it’s how we taste the goodness of the Lord.

  3. Daily Commitment: Make a daily commitment to engage with God. Through prayer, scripture, and acts of kindness, we can nourish our souls. Ask yourself each day how you can live out Jesus' teachings in your interactions with others.

  4. Invite Others: Just as Rob invited me to try the octopus tacos, we should invite others to experience the goodness of the Lord. Share your faith, invite friends to church, or simply show Christ’s love in your daily interactions. Encourage others to take the risk and see how good God is.

"Taste and see the goodness of the Lord!" 

This is an invitation to a transformative relationship with Jesus. Just as trying new foods can lead to delightful discoveries, trying Jesus—living as He lived, loving as He loved—can lead to a profound experience of His goodness.

Let’s reflect on our spiritual diet. 

What are you consuming daily in your thoughts, actions, and relationships? Is it nourishing your soul or weighing you down? 

Let’s commit to "tasting and seeing" the goodness of the Lord, to embracing Jesus fully, and allowing His love to transform us from the inside out.

Amen.

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