Readings: 2 Kings 4:42-44; Eph. 4:1-6; Jn. 6:1-15
Give them Something to Eat
In the Translator’s Preface to the Book ‘Child of the
Dark’ by Carolina Maria De Jesus, David St. Clair wrote: “Carolina is
not really the main personage in her diary. It is a bigger character – Hunger.
From the first to the last page, he appears with an unnerving consistency. The
other characters are consequences of this Hunger: alcoholism, prostitution,
violence, and murder.” A common adage states, “A hungry man is an angry man.”
Therefore, it would be correct to say that a hungry person cannot hear the word
of God. Preaching the gospel and feeding the poor must always go hand in
hand. To this point, St. James admonished, “If a brother or sister
has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them,
“Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the
necessities of the body, what good is it?” (James 2:14-17). Regardless
of our position, we must eat and feed those who depend on us. Without food, we
have no strength to work; without strength, we cannot be productive.
Today’s first and gospel readings address Hunger.
Elisha fed 100 people with 20 barley loaves. His servant did not understand how
that could be possible. But Elisha relied on and trusted in God and his word;
thus, a miracle became possible. We must give what we have to God, trusting
that he can work a miracle with it to his greater glory. What we have is a gift
from God; he will accept what we give him to better the lives of others. Christ
fed five thousand in the gospel with five loaves of bread and two fish. Christ
used the contribution of the young man who was willing to give what he had to
him so that he could use it to feed others. We see in this the foretaste of the
heavenly banquet that describes God’s care for humanity.
While the readings depict physical nourishment, we should
interpret this as more than just providing food for our bodies. God can use
others to nourish his people. He assures us that those who show charity will be
rewarded with eternal life, saying, “Come, you whom my Father blesses.
Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I
was hungry, and you gave me food, I was thirsty, and you gave me drink, a
stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for
me, in prison and you visited me.” (Mt. 25:34-36). The readings
actually refer to our spiritual Hunger that only God can satisfy. Only God can
fulfill our souls’ desires and quench our thirst. ‘Eat my flesh and drink
my blood, and you will live forever.’ Many wealthy individuals have
abundant material possessions in this world and yet are not content. There
seems to be a void in their hearts that only God can fill. They must seek God,
who can ensure their happiness. As the Psalmist says, “The hand of
the Lord feeds us, and he answers all our needs. The eyes of all look hopefully
to you, and you give them their food in due season; you open your hand and
satisfy the desire of every living thing.” (Ps. 145).
The fulfillment of our material needs is temporary. As Jesus
tells the Samaritan woman, “Everyone who drinks this water will be
thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the
water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal
life.” (Jn. 4:13-14). This is not a one-time occurrence but a journey
we embark on. This is what the bread of life offers us - everlasting
fulfillment of our needs. And so, like the Samaritan woman, we implore Christ, “Sir,
give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to
draw water.” (Jn. 4:15). The food that Christ gives will strengthen us
on our pilgrim journey here on earth. It is not a meal but spiritual
food – His Body and Blood. This is what we celebrate at Mass every day.
Christ reminds 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.” (Jn. 6:51). It does not matter the
number of hungry people, the food prepared by Christ, after giving
thanks, will be enough for everyone and there will be leftovers.
Just as Christ broke the bread of his body and shared it among many, may we, too, become the bread that is broken to feed others. Let us pray that we may live “With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.” (Eph. 4:1-6). And when we receive Christ in the Eucharist, may we recognize that it is his Body, Blood, and Divinity that we receive for our salvation and redemption of the world. Amen.
Rev. Augustine
Etemma Inwang, MSP.
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