August 9, 2009
All Manna of Things
Over the last few weeks, we’ve heard about “Manna”, the “bread from heaven” that God used to feed the Israelites on their journey from slavery in Egypt to the promised land. Historians and biologists are at a loss to explain exactly what this substance was -- the theories range from resin from the tamarix tree to lichens to a type of mushrooms found in the desert.
No matter. The important thing was that when people were hungry, they turned to God and God fed them. When Jesus came along and the people challenged him to give them a sign that he had come from heaven, they pointed out that Moses had given them Manna -- Jesus points out that the Manna was from God, not Moses and that he would give them real bread from heaven and -- here came the hard part -- that HE WAS the bread from heaven.
It was hard for the people back then to grasp a concept of Jesus being bread. Because we receive the Eucharist, we are used to this idea, perhaps taking it a bit for granted. So it’s good that we re-enter the world of this Sunday’s gospel when people were shocked by the idea that Jesus offers his Body as food. Can we really believe that when we receive the host -- our “Manna” -- that this contains the savior of the world?
I ate some good meals, prepared with love, on my recent vacation. And I left the table feeling satisfied, complete and blessed. But those meals don’t compare with the Eucharistic meal where I ate the ultimate food. May I always walk away from the Eucharistic table appreciating who the food is.
Our appreciation for a good family meal, doesn’t end with a “thanks” (or a burp). No, we offer to clear the table, do the dishes, etc. Our appreciation for the ultimate food also does not end when we leave the church. Our gratitude is expressed in the love we show others through our generous help, forgiveness and acts of kindness and sacrifice. Jesus is most pleased when we not only partake in the meal, but when his presence strengthens us to do his work in the world we live in. The Israelites were fed on Manna, let’s appreciate the Bread from Heaven that we are blessed with.
