Growing up, my parents had a way of verbally highlighting what was most important; they would repeat the command, task, expectation, or whatever it was so that we knew it was important. You might be able to plead ignorance of what they had said once, maybe twice, but by the time they reached the third repetition, you knew you’d better pay attention. Starting today, that is exactly what the Church is doing for us in regards to the Eucharist. For the next five weeks, the Church will invite us to explore chapter 6 of St. John's Gospel. This section of John’s writing is often called the “bread of life discourse”, and in it we have an opportunity to reflect more deeply on the greatest gift that Christ has given us, the gift of himself in the Eucharist. These precious verses have been explored, prayed with, and studied for 2000 years and still we have not exhausted their richness. In order that we don’t get overwhelmed by the theological buffet which is laid out in front of us, let’s focus on one element for this week. The common thread in both the first reading and the gospel is food.
In the first reading from the Book of Kings, the Prophet Elisha is given 20 barley loaves by an unknown man. God commands him to use these 20 loaves to feed 100 people. Elisha objects, realizing that this is not enough food. God says just be quiet and do it; not only will there be enough but there will even be leftovers. Of course this is what happened. A skeptical person might try to downplay this miracle. Maybe the loaves were very large, like party subs from subway or maybe the 100 people were on a diet or didn’t like that type of bread.
In the case of Jesus there can be no doubt. He uses 5 barley loaves and 2 fish to feed 5000 men, plus their wives and children. An impressive miracle to be sure, but Jesus does not intend it as a one-time marvel. He takes the bread and gives thanks before distributing it. “Giving thanks" in Greek is Eucharist - the word we use for the Mass. Perhaps you know this already, the form of the Mass as we are celebrating it right now, right here in little Shrewsbury, is virtually unchanged since the second century.
St. Justin Martyr, writing about 150 A.D., describes Christians gathering on Sunday. They listened to readings from the Hebrew Scriptures and the Gospels, followed by a homily. Then come prayers, an offering of bread and wine, a consecration prayer using Jesus’ words at the Last Supper. A deacon helps with Communion and after the service, takes Communion to the sick. And no Sunday Mass would be complete without a collection! St. Justin gives an exhortation to share with those in distress - the sick, the imprisoned, all those in need. Justin Martyr underscores that Jesus wants to feed us with his word and with the Eucharistic sacrifice. Beginning this Sunday and continuing for the next 4 weeks, we will see different dimensions of that sacrifice we know as the Eucharist.
Food has three main purposes. First, to repair and refuel the body. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, said, "Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food." Jesus, the Bread of Life, heals us. The second purpose of food is social: it unites people. Studies show that if a family has dinner together - even once or twice a week - it reduces the risk that children will engage in destructive behaviors. Likewise, your attendance at Mass, the best of family meals, can have a powerful effect. Third, food brings joy. Is there anything better than delicious food (I’m thinking of my mom’s potato salad and pumpkin pie), especially when we are sharing with family and friends whom we love? Junk food and bad diets fail one or more of these criteria and as a result, become damaging and dangerous.
In both miracles today, God says to people around him, “give me the food you have. I don’t care if it seems too little or insignificant. Give me what you have and I will make it more than enough for what you need; in fact, there will even be leftovers for others!” Isn’t this true today? A little plate of plain wheat wafers and a small carafe of wine will become the spiritual food and drink that will give you the strength to forgive, to hope, to love, to pray, and to serve. Can it be anything other than a miracle that this seemingly insignificant food and drink has empowered saints, emboldened martyrs, and softened the hardest hearts?!
Everyone needs food to survive and because we are wonderfully made, everyone feels hungry as a reminder that it is time to eat. But our bodies are not the only part of us that experience hunger. Our mind and our soul also need to be fed consistently with wholesome nutrients if they are to remain healthy and growing. We must have some sort of meal plan for our mind and soul if we want to flourish as an integrated and fully-alive human.
For these five weeks, we have the opportunity to think about what it means when Jesus says, “I am the bread of Life.” We can appreciate the fact that he promises to be our food; to nourish our body, mind, and spirit. We might also ask for the courage and honesty to look at what we consume right now as food and drink for our body. Does it bear the three qualities of repairing, uniting, and bringing joy? Or is it an escape, an indulgence, or an afterthought that we treat with indifference, irritation, and laziness?
More importantly, what are we feeding our mind and soul? Are we feeding them at all or are they on a starvation diet? If we ate as often as we prayed, would we survive? Would our body have any strength at all? Are we taking time to enrich our minds with wholesome reading, hobbies, and continued education? Do we try and learn something new each day about ourselves and our world? Or are we passively allowing ourselves to be fed by the junk food of reality tv, buzzfeed quizzes, or other diversions that entertain but fail to enrich and satisfy.
If we want to be healthy and holy, we must attend to the needs of body, soul, and mind. Jesus offers to be our food to feed all three. He is the only food that will satisfy you completely and forever. And he will give not only enough for your own needs, but there will also be leftovers for you to share with others who are hungry and weak and in need of nourishment.
