Readings: 1 Kgs. 19:19-8; Eph. 4:30-5:2; Jn. 6:41-51
God Shows Up with
When We Least Expect Him
1. Imagine being told that there is someone in the nearby city who guarantees freedom from pain, sickness and death and assures you eternal life. Imagine many people, including yourself, rushing to that city to meet the person with great expectation, because you want to live forever. When you finally get to see the person, you discover that you know him, you were close to his family; you even went to the same school with his brothers and sisters. You know the parents well before they relocated. You always saw him working with his father in their family business. So, this is the man who promises the whole world eternal life? He told people that he was sent by God and that God is his father? You would be right to assume that he had a mental problem; he is clearly delusional and needed psychiatric evaluation. Who does he think he is? You would not want to have anything to do with that man.
2. That was exactly how some Jews felt about Jesus. They knew him. “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?’” (Jn. 6:42). Jesus had to constantly establish his identity to win the approval of his people. “He came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this? And they took offense at him.” (Mat. 13:54-57). Jesus’ language was strange and difficult for them to understand. His way of life was different. His message was mercy, love, forgiveness, and compassion. They got stuck in the ‘here and now’ and missed out in the ‘hereafter.’ Little wonder why they murmured about Jesus because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” (Jn. 6:41).
3. If we dwell on the credentials and experiential knowledge of Jesus and his origin, we miss the essential truth about his teaching. It is an act of faith, faith in the one who sent him: “No one can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draw him, and I will raise him on the last day.” We must look beyond the bread that we eat and the wine that we drink to see the Savior and our Lord, and his love poured out as blood. God gave his Son as bread for the salvation of the world. He tells us, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.
4. In the first reading Elijah who was hungry, tired, and depressed had had enough: “This is enough, O Lord! Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” It was then that God showed up: “Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you!” After eating the food of the angel, Elijah was nourished and strengthened with his energy restored, his depression lifted, and his faith in God renewed. He was strong again to face the trials of life. He had a reason to live again. With zeal and zest for life, he could now walk 40 days and 40 nights to meet the Lord. God was carrying him on an eagle’s wings. What about us? If we have faith in God and in Jesus Christ his son, we will want for nothing. Christ tells us, I am the bread of life, whoever eats the bread will live forever, for my body is real food and my blood is real drink, whoever eats this bread will live forever, and I will raise him up on the last day. God always provides for his people when they least expect him. He gave them manner from heaven and water from the rock and brought them to the promised land. As the Lord fed Elijah so does he feed and nourish us with food for our journey. Jesus, the bread of life, will sustain us on our earthly journey till we meet our Lord in the new Jerusalem.
5.
As
a community of God’s people, we are fed by his body and blood. This food will
nourish and change us into a people of God. His body and blood will prevent us
from sin and make us humble and honest. St. Paul reminds us that our life must
be compatible with our participation with the body of Christ. Therefore, we
should strive to live in peace with one another. Hence, “All bitterness, fury, anger,
shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice. And be
kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you
in Christ.” We must satisfy the hunger of one another for truth,
justice, and peace. We must provide a meal of brotherhood and companionship to
others in need of comfort, love, and mercy. We should create a fraternal
community where all are called to build up the kingdom of God on earth. May we
be renewed on our pilgrim journey to our everlasting kingdom with God. Amen.
Rev. Augustine Etemma
Inwang, MSP.
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