Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time –

                                         A Reflection by Fr. Leo

As the Israelites are making their way to freedom from the Egyptians, they grumble because of hunger and wonder if they would have been better off in Egypt.  God intercedes and provides them with food; manna from heaven.  

In the gospel the crowds follow Jesus, not because they ate the bread he provided, but because they hungered for his wisdom and truth, the true bread from heaven; Jesus Christ.

Even today, it is the Holy Spirit that feeds our souls and shapes our minds to live in the way of truth justice and love.  St. Paul points this out when he urges us to put our former ways of life behind and be renewed in spirit, putting on a new self, created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth. 

God’s voice is within us, and to listen to God’s voice and live in God’s truth is the spiritual journey each of us has adopted in Jesus Christ.  Our baptism was a baptism into God’s spirit, to share in God’s life and God’s continued calling of God’s people to the fullness in God’s spirit; the bread of life.

As we grow in Christ, we become “Eucharist” to feed the hunger of humanity.  The manifestation of God’s love, justice, mercy and truth become our calling.  At least this is our goal as Disciples of Christ.  It is difficult, as we may have to say no to desires the ‘world’ broadcasts to us constantly.  Yes, a bigger house, a sportier car, may all be fun to have.  But is a bigger house a good thing if you are in it alone and it separates you from sharing things and life with other people?

I’ve mentioned this story many times, but I remember a polish woman who lived here for a while, she became a genetic counselor.  She shared with me that where she came from, if you had a new dress, it would not be unexpected to share that dress, even before you had used it, with a cousin who might need it for some occasion.  Think of the community this creates and the bonds of love that exist so this kind of thing can happen? 

So the materialism of our culture can get in the way of our living as Jesus would live.  This is partly why Pope Francis lives in an apartment with the other guys.  Not just because he wants to set an example to live simply, but because he doesn’t want to be isolated.  He admits he needs to be around other people so he doesn’t get depressed. 

Loneliness is epidemic in our culture and Mother Teresa recognized this as our great poverty.  Might that be a symptom of following the voice of the ‘world’ rather than that of the Gospel within us?  Perhaps we need to recognize our need for others and share more of ourselves with others in confidence, so that in the sharing we will be fed by the love of God present where two or more gather.

Let us reflect this week on our own lives and ask if there is a mindset separating us from the truth within us and isolating us from others. Let us ponder how we might be ‘life’ for others and others “life for us.”