Monday, August 13, 2012
They shall all be taught by God
Liturgical readings
1 Kings 19:4-8
Psalm 34
Ephesians 4:30 - 5:2
John 6:41-51
"They shall all be taught by God."
Jesus made a claim before His own people, saying: "I am the bread that came down from heaven." But the people doubted this teaching because they knew that Jesus was the son of Joseph. Their doubts made them murmur. What did the Lord do with their reaction? He led them to understand the teaching in the context of His relationship with the Father. Jesus wanted the people to discern and discover His divinity - hidden in His humanity. Yes, He was the son of Joseph, but there was more to just that. The people only understood God as the One who fed their ancestors with manna from heaven. They were not aware of the possibility that this God, who gave their ancestors manna in the desert, can be incarnated in human flesh. God can 'come down from heaven' in Jesus and be 'bread' for them. Bread that comforts and gives life.
It has been two millenia since the time of Jesus (ca. 33 A.D.). Catholics today are very privileged to be spared from the doubts and confusion which the people in biblical times experienced. We can understand the gospel now from the Church's definition of the mystery of the Incarnation and the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Today is a call to be grateful for all those who have gone before us - especially the early Church Fathers and the doctors of the Church. These ancestors of our faith have literally suffered to give succeeding generations, and our own generation a clearer and better understanding of the mystery and Person of Jesus. For this great gift, we have the responsibility to help others also see how God in Jesus is truly the Bread of Life that came down from heaven: Bread that nourishes our souls with the faith, hope and love that will see us through the vicissitudes of life.
God has given us many gifts, many blessings. He has given us the gift of freedom and the treasure of time. When we use these treasures not only for producing perishable food, but also for the Bread and Life that matters, then we can help make Christ's presence and the hope He gives come alive in our homes and our work. The key to our Christian life is found in the words of Jesus Himself: "No one can come to Him unless the Father draws him." Jesus' present in the Scriptures, in the Sacrament of the Eucharist, and in our Christian communities, draws us to the truth about God and His love for us. It is this truth of God's love that gives our lives direction and meaning. It is this truth that gives us our identity before others who do not know Christ. It is this truth that integrates everything in our life as a people called to be one family in God.
Monday, August 06, 2012
"Work for food that remains unto life eternal."
Liturgical readings
Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15
Psalm 78
Ephesians 4:17, 20-24
John 6:24-35
"Work for food that remains unto life eternal."
Those who benefitted from the miraculous feeding of Jesus went forth and followed Him. They may have wished to see another miracle and benefit again. They did not understand what the miracle meant, who Jesus is, and what His prophetic mission meant. Jesus then pointed out to them what was important. He elevated their understanding from the level of physical needs, to a level that was more important: "to work for food that remains unto life eternal." The crowds had difficulty understanding because they associate the miracle of Jesus with the miracle Yahweh had performed for their ancestors in the desert (the manna from heaven). It from this old understanding that Jesus redirected their faith to believe in Him now as the Bread of Life that comes down from heaven - their new Source of Life.
In life and work, many of us sometimes lose sight of what God wants us to understand. Like the people who were fed from Jesus' feeding miracle, we may set our focus on the food we work for, rather than look to the Source of that food. In this context of understanding, whenever food becomes difficult, like during calamities or economic difficulties, it help us greatly if we go back to the spiritual discipline needed to manage such a situation. Discipline helps us not to get lost in a time of adversity. Discipline in the spiritual life redirects our focus on what truly matters: the One thing necessary. If we ground ourselves in this truth, we obtain that strength of hope necessary to help us overcome any adversity. And once we overcome every trial and test of faith, our lives begin to be reordered to the Life that always matters: love of God, others and self, in the very context of our respective states of life.
This love has its source in the framework of the Church's teaching of Jesus as the Bread of Life. It anchors our souls well in a hope that will never disappoint. If we practice the discipline of beginning and ending each day of work with prayer (or a weekday Mass), it will help us understand the deeper purpose of our life and work. This has been a practice of the Church since ancient times. The following prayer from St. Ephraem (ca. 306-373 A.D.) reflects on what it means to "work for food that remains unto life eternal":
"The beginning of the sun's passage through the sky marks the beginning of the working day for us mortals: we ask You, Lord, to prepare in our minds a place where the day that knows no end may give its light. Grant that we may have within us this light, the Life of the resurrection, and that nothing may take away our delight in You."
Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15
Psalm 78
Ephesians 4:17, 20-24
John 6:24-35
"Work for food that remains unto life eternal."
Those who benefitted from the miraculous feeding of Jesus went forth and followed Him. They may have wished to see another miracle and benefit again. They did not understand what the miracle meant, who Jesus is, and what His prophetic mission meant. Jesus then pointed out to them what was important. He elevated their understanding from the level of physical needs, to a level that was more important: "to work for food that remains unto life eternal." The crowds had difficulty understanding because they associate the miracle of Jesus with the miracle Yahweh had performed for their ancestors in the desert (the manna from heaven). It from this old understanding that Jesus redirected their faith to believe in Him now as the Bread of Life that comes down from heaven - their new Source of Life.
In life and work, many of us sometimes lose sight of what God wants us to understand. Like the people who were fed from Jesus' feeding miracle, we may set our focus on the food we work for, rather than look to the Source of that food. In this context of understanding, whenever food becomes difficult, like during calamities or economic difficulties, it help us greatly if we go back to the spiritual discipline needed to manage such a situation. Discipline helps us not to get lost in a time of adversity. Discipline in the spiritual life redirects our focus on what truly matters: the One thing necessary. If we ground ourselves in this truth, we obtain that strength of hope necessary to help us overcome any adversity. And once we overcome every trial and test of faith, our lives begin to be reordered to the Life that always matters: love of God, others and self, in the very context of our respective states of life.
This love has its source in the framework of the Church's teaching of Jesus as the Bread of Life. It anchors our souls well in a hope that will never disappoint. If we practice the discipline of beginning and ending each day of work with prayer (or a weekday Mass), it will help us understand the deeper purpose of our life and work. This has been a practice of the Church since ancient times. The following prayer from St. Ephraem (ca. 306-373 A.D.) reflects on what it means to "work for food that remains unto life eternal":
"The beginning of the sun's passage through the sky marks the beginning of the working day for us mortals: we ask You, Lord, to prepare in our minds a place where the day that knows no end may give its light. Grant that we may have within us this light, the Life of the resurrection, and that nothing may take away our delight in You."
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
"Gather up the crusts so that nothing will go to waste."
Liturgical readings
2 Kings 4:42-44
Psalm 145
Ephesians 4:1-6
John 6:1-15
"Gather up the crusts so that nothing will go to waste."
The passage from St. John's gospel speaks about the miracle of five loaves of bread and two fish. It was a miracle that fed five thousand men. In other gospel versions, there is an additional phrase added - "not counting women and children". But even without this additional phrase in John's gospel, common sense will tell us that often, people travel with those they know - like family and friends. So, not only did the men benefit, but also members of their family or some friends. But the point to all these is that everyone had their fill, and there were still left overs that filled twelve containers. Jesus was one who knew the value that food can give to people. So, he told his followers directly: "gather up the crusts that are left over so that nothing will go to waste." Jesus may have thought to distribute the leftovers to the people so they will have food when they travel back home.
All creation and human life is part of God's plan - a plan which is good and meant to serve His divine purpose. All life comes from God and goes back to God. This mystery of life and material blessing we receive each day must be multiplied and then responsibly taken care of, "so that nothing will go to waste". This can be seen also in the Eucharist when the priest and the communion ministers gather the hosts that are left over. The Eucharistic celebration is a symbolic gesture of that feeding miracle of Christ. The hosts that are gathered by the priest and his communion ministers are placed in a few ciboria and then returned to the tabernacle. These hosts are meant to be distributed to the sick and the elderly in the parish community.
2 Kings 4:42-44
Psalm 145
Ephesians 4:1-6
John 6:1-15
"Gather up the crusts so that nothing will go to waste."
The passage from St. John's gospel speaks about the miracle of five loaves of bread and two fish. It was a miracle that fed five thousand men. In other gospel versions, there is an additional phrase added - "not counting women and children". But even without this additional phrase in John's gospel, common sense will tell us that often, people travel with those they know - like family and friends. So, not only did the men benefit, but also members of their family or some friends. But the point to all these is that everyone had their fill, and there were still left overs that filled twelve containers. Jesus was one who knew the value that food can give to people. So, he told his followers directly: "gather up the crusts that are left over so that nothing will go to waste." Jesus may have thought to distribute the leftovers to the people so they will have food when they travel back home.
All creation and human life is part of God's plan - a plan which is good and meant to serve His divine purpose. All life comes from God and goes back to God. This mystery of life and material blessing we receive each day must be multiplied and then responsibly taken care of, "so that nothing will go to waste". This can be seen also in the Eucharist when the priest and the communion ministers gather the hosts that are left over. The Eucharistic celebration is a symbolic gesture of that feeding miracle of Christ. The hosts that are gathered by the priest and his communion ministers are placed in a few ciboria and then returned to the tabernacle. These hosts are meant to be distributed to the sick and the elderly in the parish community.
Everyone knows the value "left overs" in hard times. It is during such times that families train their children to eat only what they can consume and not to leave any food in their plate. Parents ought to discipline their children in this matter not only during hard times, but for all time. Food is a grace we receive from God. We bless our food and thank God after every meal. In some businesses, we see a few good employees who get the clean leftovers and give it to the poor in their neighborhood. These are miracles of sharing we need to reproduce in abundance. We are called to follow Jesus' example well: to manage whatever is available, work to produce as much good as we can, and if we do well, we can produce resources beyond our expectation. The combined gift of faith in God, in the abilities of others and in our own ability, help us see beyond what is available to what can be produced in abundance.
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