Even before the cross, Jesus demonstrated the same love to those he encountered
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Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.-
By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor
A daily reflection on the daily readings by Father Perry.
+ With one phrase — “Qu’ils mangent de la brioche,” meaning, “Let them eat cake,” 18th century queen Marie Antoinette became a hated symbol of the French monarchy — and she helped to fuel the hatred that became the French Revolution!
+ With one phrase — “For God is love” — John, in his first letter, leads us to what might be considered something of a doable or livable definition of God. It is certainly the only one that passes my test of a definition: “God is Love.”
This “hymn” from John speaks an unspeakably profound truth that we should celebrate every day: “In this is love — not that we have loved God, but that God has loved us.”
+ Such a perfect explanation for Jesus’ demonstration of love and forgiveness on the cross. But even before he got to the cross he demonstrated the same love.
The phrase that fell from his lips was not a callous “Let them eat cake.”
No, he said in answer to the observation by his disciples that the people were hungry.
And at the suggestion of the disciples that Jesus send them away, Jesus replied: “Give them some food yourselves.”
There were lots and lots and lots (12 baskets full of leftovers — 12, like the 12 tribes of Israel, like the 12 apostles, like a fulfillment of covenant promises as Abraham began it all in God, and soon there were 12 tribes. Such an inheritance of bread and fish.
+ Let them eat their full!
+ You give them food yourselves.
+ What might this word of God be saying to us, his contemporary disciples and apostles?
Are we just to observe the hunger of others (physical, spiritual, emotional, societal), or are we being asked, called, told to feed others?
What is our response? — “Let them eat cake” or “Yes Lord, how right you are; God is love, and when we love truly, we make God present in this world; and he always satisfies — always!
Father Perry D. Leiker is the 14th pastor of St. Bernard Catholic Church. Reach him at (323) 255-6142. Email Father Perry at pleiker@stbernard-church.com. Follow Father Perry on Twitter: @MrDeano76.
