View the readings for this Sunday.
Sunday, Aug. 5 - 18th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Ex 16:2-4, 12-15
Ps 78:3-4, 23-24, 25, 54
Eph 4:17, 20-24
Jn 6:24-35
By Marc Massery
Candy manufacturer Mars Incorporated says, "You're not you when you're hungry," and purports that Snickers can satisfy us. But only Jesus Christ - present in the Eucharist - can truly satisfy the deepest desires of our hearts.
In the first reading from the book of Exodus, the Israelites complain to Moses as they wander in the desert, looking for the Promised Land.
Even though they had watched as the Lord miraculously hurled down fire from Heaven, turned the water of the Nile into blood, and parted the waves of the Red Sea on their way to freedom from slavery, they doubted that He could provide for them.
In fact, they grumble that they'd rather go back into slavery in Egypt, where they could count on a square meal.
The Lord, knowing their needs, miraculously gives them quail and manna from Heaven, saying, "You shall have your fill ... so that you may know that I, the Lord, am your God" (Ex 16:12).
The Lord wants to satisfy us.
But He wants to give us more than mere physical satiety.
In the Gospel reading, we meet the crowd of people who had just been filled by the bread and fishes multiplied by Jesus. Instead of this miracle directing them toward desiring God, it turns them toward wanting the things of the earth - for more food. They falsely believe that if they could just have enough to eat, enough worldly wealth, they would be happy.
But Jesus tells them, "Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life" (Jn 6:27).
They want this food that He has to offer. But like their ancestors, they remain skeptical and ask for more bread as a sign. Their minds remain stuck on worldly prosperity.
They do not understand that Jesus came to give us, not an abundance of physical food, but spiritual food. He didn't come to make us wealthy, but to make us holy.
In her Diary, St. Faustina says,
"Jesus, there is one more secret in my life, the deepest and dearest to my heart: it is You Yourself when You come to my heart under the appearance of bread. Herein lies the whole secret of my sanctity. Here my heart is so united with Yours as to be but one. There are no more secrets, because all that is Yours is mine, and all that is mine is Yours. Such is the omnipotence and the miracle of Your mercy. All the tongues of men and of angels united could not find words adequate to this mystery of Your love and mercy." (1489).
The Eucharist provides all the sustenance we need to persevere through our trials. When trust in Him, when we long for Him in the Eucharist as our spiritual food, He will satisfy the deepest desires of our hearts.
View the previous Sunday Scripture Preview.
