Walking with Jesus: 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

For Sunday, August 4, 2024

Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15; Ephesians 4:17, 20-24; John 6:24-35

When we read through the Old Testament and the history of the Jewish people, it’s always fascinating to read about Moses and his Exodus experience. Many remember Charlton Heston in the movie The Ten Commandments and feel that that was the way it happened. Reading in Exodus today, we make note that the whole community is complaining again to Moses and Aaron. We know about complaining — often we complain because what we prayed for hasn’t been granted, or what we expect from special people hasn’t been fulfilled, or what we want from our life's journey has somehow just passed us by. The bottom line is that we want the things that we want — now — and we're not concerned about others along the way. But people haven’t changed, nor have the times. Can we learn by reviewing God’s presence in our lives? Jesus continues to explain the reason for His coming, letting us know that we are loved by God at every moment of our lives, as Jesus proved by dying for us and leaving us His continual presence, which we are honored to receive in the Eucharist. Do I feel how honored I am to celebrate mass as often as I do, and how blessed and graced I am to share this with such wonderful people of faith? It’s much like Moses and Aaron today … sharing God’s love and call for people to believe ... to follow … working to attain our promised eternity with God in heaven.

The people have seen how good it was in Egypt. At least they could eat. Now they are wandering in the Sinai desert and complaining about what to eat. God promises food and delivers. Meat comes as quail each evening. The flakes that appear on the ground each morning after the morning dew evaporates are the bread that comes down from heaven. They ask, What is this? Manna is its name. The point is that while they travel through the Sinai wilderness for 30 years, God gives them this meat and bread. How often do I express my thanks to the Lord for His presence … gifts … accomplishments … and letting me know He is with me each day? If I’m not grateful, I become too full of myself and feel I’m the one responsible for all my successes. I shut God out and make it more difficult for Him to crack my hardened feelings, emotions, beliefs, and love for God. The Exodus story of the Israelites is so often my own story. What am I going to do about it?

Paul has this same problem with the Ephesians today. He’s reminding them not to live as the Gentiles, forgetting God, going to Him only when needed for what they want. They have learned Christ’s teaching on how to live love ... how to realize that people have needs and need to know that God loves them. They are to put on Christ by the way they live and by the respect they show to all people: the transformation of their behavior which is now rooted in remaking humankind in the divine image of love. How am I doing in this? Do people feel better after I leave their company? Have they seen some image of God’s goodness and love in my behavior? Have they been touched to realize they are seeing God passing before them? Do they know God is love and that they are loved?

Jesus is telling the great crowd that the manna is more than just Him feeding them food — now He is feeding them Himself — He is the Son of Man, sent by God to bring them everlasting life. He is now the bread. In John we hear Jesus saying I am — a statement that God uses when Moses is at the burning bush describing who He is (Exodus 3:14). So what does this mean to us? Jesus identifies Himself as the Bread of Life that fully satisfies the hunger and thirst of those who believe in Him. Do I reach into the world and its attractions to solve my boredom or loneliness? Do I shut out God?

So I reflect on:

• Often I trod along on my spiritual journey feeling that I pretty much have it all together … which makes me miss the Who — the wow — of the one who is our Faith.
• Just before today’s passage, Jesus is walking on the water. The apostles are amazed … shocked … they never thought they would see Jesus doing this … caring … whatever. Do I miss Jesus at times too?

Sacred Space 2024 states:

“Capernaum and the lake were significant places in the ministry of Jesus. He taught and drew people to Himself in that area and offered many signs. Lord, may we have the ability to interpret the signs and live by the deeper truth of who You are.”