Tuesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Mass Readings

Today's first reading from the First Book of Kings is a great but much neglected passage. The Church has consistently interpreted this passage in light of the Eucharist. Just as the Lord through the Prophet Elijah was able to miraculously produce abundant bread for a year out of only a handful of flour, so the Lord perpetually multiplies His glorified body and blood in the Eucharist which we celebrate. What's more, notice how Elijah was not simply multiplying the bread for himself, even though initially it was Elijah's own hunger and thirst that led him to this widow; rather, the multiplication of bread (as Jesus would later do with both bread and then the Eucharist) fed the widow and her son.

On a superficial level we might think there is no connection between the first reading and the gospel reading. Listen to what Jesus has to say in the Sermon on the Mount: "You are the salt of the earth....You are the light of the world..." (Matthew 5:13-14) becomes simply, help others come to have a relationship with Jesus. Yes this is important. Yes, the texts do point to something spiritual. That is undeniable. But, if we neglect the physical and material meaning of the passage as well, we do a disservice to the spiritual as well. Like Elijah and Jesus, we too must multiply bread for those who are hungry. This is part of what it means to be salt and light. We need to shine in the darkness, not merely the darkness of spiritual ignorance, but also the darkness of poverty and hunger. This is one of the implications of receiving the Eucharist. We share bread, which is more than merely bread, and now we need to share it with others. Jesus enters us through the Eucharist, and now we must bring Jesus to others, meeting their spiritual needs and physical as well.

Let's take it upon ourselves to find ways to multiply bread for others who are in need, like the widow in today's first reading. Let's begin, as we should begin all endeavors, through prayer. But let's not stop there, rather, let our prayer bring forth action pleasing to God.

- Jeff Morrow