Monday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Food is such a wonderful part of all of our lives. Like most people I enjoy eating, but I also love to cook, and I find great joy in sharing my cooking with other people. In today’s scripture readings God shows us that He understands the significance of food for our daily living. God not only tends to our spiritual needs, but He recognizes that our physical needs are important, and therefore He provides food for the journey. Because of His care and compassion, God recognizes all of our needs, and He responds generously to satisfy our hungry bodies and souls.
In the first reading, God feeds the Israelites manna in the desert. The people are grumbling because they want the various foods that they enjoyed while in Egypt. Moses is distraught because he is unable to meet the demands of the people. God uses both unusual (manna-a seed that comes with the dew) and ordinary (quail) to nourish His people. Through His patient and merciful intervention, God gives them what they need (not necessarily what they want). He knows that the food He gives will provide what is required to make the journey to the Promised Land.
In the gospel reading, Jesus has pity on the crowds that are following Him. Jesus attends to their spiritual health by curing the sick, but He also provides bread and fish to feed them physically. Jesus offers this tangible sign of His compassion, and He does so in such a generous way that there are twelve wicker baskets full of left over fragments after all had eaten.
These readings remind me that all the food that we have is in fact a gift of God. Whether we are enjoying vegetables from our gardens, eating the food from the supermarket, or enjoying a meal at a restaurant- all of this food is provided through the goodness of God. Because this is all gift, I think we are called to be grateful to God for this blessing. We are also called to use food wisely and not be wasteful. Finally, I think that God calls us to be generous in sharing what we have with others. There are many ways that we can give. Some options include making a casserole for St. Vincent Hotel, donating to a charity that feeds the poor, or preparing a meal to share with a family in need. Jesus wants us to share as we are able, so similar to the crowds in the gospel story all people can “eat and be satisfied.”
God’s attention to the physical needs of the people in scripture, remind us that God desires all people to have both spiritual well being and good physical health. Through food, exercise, and rest, God invites us to live a lifestyle that provides what we need to be healthy disciples living in service to others. Our body is a gift, so we are called to provide good care for this “earthen vessel,” so that we can follow Jesus in building His Kingdom.
God uses food not just to nourish us physically, but to provide spiritual sustenance as well. Through bread and wine transformed by His Spirit, Jesus shares His body and blood as food for our souls. God feeds His people both with food from the earth, and with heavenly food, so all of us can be united with Him in body, mind and soul.
Loving Father, You created us and care for all of our needs. You sent Jesus who shows us Your overflowing love. Through the grace of Your Spirit give us both the physical and spiritual food that we need, so we can live generous lives serving You. May all we do give you glory and praise. We pray this through Christ our LORD. Amen.
- Marylynn Herchline