Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor.
“Looking Ahead” is a reflection on the Sunday readings, for the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time, by Father Perry.
By Father Perry D. Leiker, pastor
Imagine being so hungry you would prefer to return to living in slavery where you would expect to eat at least once a day. That seems better than starving. But imagine crying out to God, complaining to him; and he listens, responds, and sends food daily. At night, quail filled the camp. In the morning, bread rained down from heaven. All he asks is that they “follow my instructions.”
Now, in Jesus‘ time, the people come to him because they are hungry for food, and for spiritual food. They want healing. They want hope. They want understanding and signs — yes, signs like their ancestors had. But do they want to grow into a people who really know God and listen to the word of God? Do they want to become God’s people in a way that God’s goodness, justice, peace, and compassion live in their words and actions?
Hunger and thirst for the living God means opening heart and soul, and discovering the living word that transforms our way of living. Knowing God means beginning to live and look like God. So they said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
The bread we seek is more than the host. It is in and through the host (bread) that we meet Christ, experience Christ, and find our deepest hungers and thirsts satisfied.
Quote of the week |
“There are those who seek knowledge for the sake of knowledge; that is curiosity. There are those who seek knowledge to be known by others; that is vanity. There are those who seek knowledge in order to serve; that is love.” — St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153).
