Monday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
As we continue with this 18th week of Ordinary Time, we hear more about Moses’ journey with the Hebrew people following their escape from Egypt. When we consider this first reading from the book of Numbers, we might say to ourselves, “These people are certainly big complainers! God rescues them from slavery, and all they can do is complain about the food!” The list almost seems comical: cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. One can picture the Hebrew people daydreaming about food, wishing they could head back to slavery and maltreatment so that at least they could eat well. It’s no wonder that Moses became so upset with these people! If this is our reaction, however, then I suggest we have some more soul-searching to do. After all, our behavior is often very similar to the Hebrew people. Have you ever dreamed of buying the perfect shoes or the perfect shirt or the perfect car or the perfect house, only to make the plunge and come away disappointed? Or have you ever had the experience of praying for something you really wanted, only to get it and be disappointed? In other words, have your expectations of something ever differed from the reality?
The Hebrew people had probably expected a life of comfort and tranquility following their dramatic liberation from Pharaoh and his army. They had not expected to be stranded in the desert with the same food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for an indefinite number of days. They probably had envisioned a life that was more, well, more enjoyable! They wanted one where their creature comforts would be abundant, with happiness to match. When we consider Moses’ reaction we might think that he also had different expectations for his role as leader of the people. Maybe he thought it would be more glamorous, or, at least, more rewarding! When it turned out to be different than his expectations, he seemed ready to give up. The people’s whining made him whine, too.
In the gospel reading from Matthew, we hear the familiar story of the feeding of the 5,000. The pairing with the first reading is interesting. In both passages, God feeds the people. In this gospel passage, the people are satisfied. Now loaves and fish together do not make for a gourmet meal. Bu the people nonetheless feel fed. They are satisfied not just by the food but by the experience of being with Jesus, being in his presence, listening to his words and basking in his love.
What God calls us to do in this life and beyond is to worship and to love him in return for his great love for us. This is when we ought to feel most fulfilled and happiest, when we in relationship with Jesus and loving and serving those around us, motivated by God’s love for us and our love of God.
The good news is that we have this opportunity at virtually every moment of our lives. We can love worship, and serve God when we are having a rotten day or a very good day. We can live Christian lives in the worst of times and in the best of times. There may be times when we think to ourselves –“Hey, this isn’t what I signed up for!” No doubt the Hebrew people felt the same way. But it is in moving beyond this immediate reaction that we can find true contentment. This true contentment will not be satisfied by cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic. It will not come from great success in one’s employment or from winning the lottery or from any of the typical measures of worldly success. This true contentment will only come when we recognize that God has freed us from slavery and when we use that liberation for its intended purpose: to love and serve God.
Today, let us take some time to think about how our expectations for our lives may not meet God’s plans for us. How can we better align his will and our own?
- Maria Morrow