Last week, we saw that the crowds had come out to hear Jesus at Passover–a very busy time of preparation–because they wanted something. He had been doing healings, and they had come, hoping to have their sick healed and well for Passover. What they received, instead, was the multiplication of the loaves and fish...an abundance of nourishment. How did it happen? What did the priest say who gave the sermon at the Mass you attended?
Over the centuries since, two basic approaches have been pursued:
1) That Jesus worked a miracle and fed so many from so little.
2) That the miracle was that people shared what they had, and it was more than enough.
A couple of the Fathers suggest that both are true. FIRST, God is amazing, and provides us with more than we could imagine. And, that, SECOND, when we experience God's generosity, it's catching! And we, ourselves, are transformed. WE become generous, too. And so, I wish I could remember which of the Fathers said this, but I can't...I can still see the classroom where we were studying them, and I can see the professor writing notes on the board, but I can't remember the Fathers we were studying, or the works we were reading from:...but whoever they were, those two Fathers sensed that the REAL MYSTERY of Eucharistic Grace...the bounty of God, is that it IS abundant. We are OVER-STUFFED with God's goodness. And, We ARE TRANSFORMED. As a result, we really do become better people.
Now, today, it's sort of cute.........the crowds who had first come to Jesus seeking healing, were amazed at what they DID receive, and are back for more! And Jesus—I can see him with a wry smile—wagging His finger and saying... "You didn't come to me because you've "seen the light," you've come because you got enough to EAT, and you're lazy and want me to feed you every day!!!" And I imagine they smiled back and applauded at His humor. It is in this context of good camaraderie that Jesus then says something that has been the "hallmark" of His ministry:
"You should not be working for perishable food/goods/goals/stuff...you fill in the blank...
But for "what" is eternal. Eternal service of God requires "eternal works"... an eternal
attitude... you need to approach your life with seriousness....not make it ugly and hard,
but with "attention" you need to begin to pay attention to serving God...truly serving
God with your life........make it mean something....your life is eternal, so live lives of
depth...put "eternity" into your actions..............
That's why they respond: "What are the 'works of God,' or the 'eternal works', the things of
depth? And Jesus replied, "Well, you could start by taking ME seriously!"
It's then that they say, "So what is YOUR "work", was it the bread you gave us, like Moses gave the manna?
Which is why Jesus responds: That wasn't MOSES giving anyone anything! Listen to the text again! It was GOD who gave the manna....but what God will give you NOW, is something holier even than that!
That's when they say, "Give us this bread always!" And that has been our prayer ever since: "Give us this day our daily bread." And by it we do mean Eucharist, and Eucharistic grace–i.e., the Generosity of God...the BOUNTY that always leaves us stupefied. It's not just the bread and the wine (the Body of Christ and His Blood) we beg, but we beg ALL God has to give us...each gift–whether it's health, or employment, or family peace–each gift a participation in and a reflection of the Body Broken, the Blood Spilled for us....EUCHARIST.
And Christ assures them that as often as they ask for this Bread, that He, Himself will come, and fill us with His Grace...for He is the Bread, the Bounty, the Generosity of God.
And He will make us generous, bountiful people in His stead. That's why the author of Ephesians begs the people NOT to live like they used to, when they were Gentiles–selfish lives, all bound up and concerned with security, and what we can "get." There's a new way of living that the God of Israel gives: a Generosity of heart and mind...a freedom in the universe that says, God is Good, the Universe is Kind...Bounty is everywhere...blessings, like Manna, are all around us, all we have to do is stoop over and pick them up! Selfishness and worry are futile actions and attitudes that do not grace the world with goodness. The truth is in looking at Jesus–who walked the earth with nothing and gave so much! THAT'S the secret of life..........GIVING!
So....here we are, you and me! What have we come here for? Each of us, probably, with something different we want from God...........no matter that He filled us yesterday, or last week, or last year....that's already "old stuff," like the Manna was for the Israelites under Moses in the first reading.......NOW, it's a NEW DAY, with NEW NEEDS, NEW Black Holes in our souls, and we want Something ELSE.................................and just like with the Israelites of old...God smiles............and says........ "SEND IN THE QUAIL!" Let quail rain down on them...let them know the blessing of birds, the blessing of wings, the blessing of being full....................and let them be TRANSFORMED.........Let me see a desert of poverty stricken philanthropists, millions wandering for 40 years in sand with nothing...absolutely NOTHING, but let them GIVE what they have and what they don't have....................make them as light as the breeze on the wings of a tiny bird, and as open as the desert horizon....may MY PEOPLE be a PEOPLE OF GENEROSITY.
That's what these readings are about today..........Eucharist is the GENEROSITY of God. God comes to you in ABUNDANCE. You pray, "give us this day," and HE GIVES IN ETERNITY.
So.........what do we take with us? You and I? We struggle like Israel did in the Sinai. We won't be perfect overnight. We won't be close! We simply struggle to be broad, open, generous, loving people who bless the earth and make it a garden. We'll each find our way, and make a 'garden path' through the desert of life, and we'll each find our stumbling stones in the coming week. Let's just pray that the paving stones of the path are more plentiful than the stumbling stones...and always we pray..."make us into Your image, make us an Icon of Your love in the world so that the world may feel hopeful and filled because we were here." And may God bless you all. +
-Father Bill Axe, O.SS.T.
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