It
is obvious that we are in the summer “feeding” mode in the
gospel passages. So many of them lately have to do with Jesus’ concern for the physical needs of people with no food
– who are weak and hungry and out of sorts.
This is a reflection of the
first reading today where we see Moses chatting with God about how hostile the
starving Hebrew people were – who were not getting enough “food from heaven” to
satisfy their needs. They were wearing Moses out with their arguing and
grumbling – and he was sick to death of it.
But just as God will once
again feed the wayward ones of the ancient past, so will Jesus feed the crowds
who gather to listen to him who have no foresight to bring food with them.
Again, though, the lesson he wants to teach here is that the more important
spiritual food, spiritual bread of his own real Body and Blood were what was
really the necessary daily diet for them. How else could he be truly and
intimately present to them, to strengthen and guide them?
It was very easy for Jesus to
multiply fish and loaves, it is very easy for Jesus to make himself present in
the Eucharistic bread and wine. May we always hunger after the true bread from
heaven – and find that it satisfies all our needs, all of them.
Sing
with joy to God our help.
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