The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.
By Fr. Carmelo Jimenez
The readings for this Sunday make us reflect on all the benefits the Eucharist brings us. Saint Paul has a question for us: “What will separate us from the love of Christ?” And he answered it too, saying: “in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us”. Hunger in the world is great but the hunger for God is greater than the hunger for food.
We can see around the whole world how many things happen: wars, violence, deaths everywhere, kidnappings, separation of families, lawsuits for many things, young people are trapped in vices, and many more. All those things are a cry out for God. The society needs the love of God. We need God.
The website www.dailyscripture.net gives us a good reflection from Don Shwager, which says: “What can truly satisfy our deepest hunger and longing? Wherever Jesus went multitudes of people gathered to meet him – people from every part of society – rich and poor, professionals and laborers, even social outcasts and pagans. What drew them to Jesus? Were they simply curious or looking for a healing? Many were drawn to Jesus because they were hungry for God. Jesus’ message of God’s kingdom and the signs and wonders he performed stirred fresh hope and expectation that God was acting in a new and powerful way to set people free from sin and oppression and to bring them the blessings of his kingdom”.
Before the Blessed Sacrament we can find rest and peace, because in the silence, Jesus speaks to us and to everybody who comes to him. In the Gospel we hear today: “When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself”. He was looking for a moment to think but He loved the people and “when He saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them”. Because God never rests from caring for our needs.
When I was in my first year of the Seminary, I couldn’t pay for my tuition. The priest who was in charge of the administration asked us to pay him. I didn’t have money to pay for my monthly payments and after the 3rd time that the priest told us to pay, I took my belongings and I thought about leaving the Seminary. Another priest saw me and told me: “Carmelo, take care the things of God and God will take care of you”. I returned my belongings and continued. The rest of my time in seminary, I had enough money for my payments.
God’s word can satisfy us. Our body is always unsatisfied with material things. When we try to satisfy ourselves with material things we desire more and more. Jesus gave people food and that was only a prefigurement of the Eucharist. In the Eucharist, Jesus feeds us with his Holy Body and his Holy Blood.
Jesus knows all the human needs but he is waiting for each of us to go with a humble heart and ask him in our own prayer. God hears our prayer and gives us the answer to our petition.
The Eucharist is heavenly food. Praise to Jesus who is present in the Tabernacle. Ask God for your needs. Whatever you ask in your prayer, God will give to you. Let us pray together: “Fill me with gratitude for your blessings and give me a generous heart that I may freely share with others what you have given to me”. Amen