Food that Endures for Eternal Life
Food. A simple word, but oh how many forms the reality it names can take!
All living things require something to nourish them and keep them alive, making it possible for them to reproduce and pass life on to the next generation. Simple single-celled beings still must grow and divide. Their genetic material is duplicated and passed on to the next generation. As life grew more complex, and the original single-celled creatures transformed into multi-celled ones, nourishment continued to be needed. Some things were able to produce their own food. Some had to get nourishment by consuming others. Some, such as the cells which became mitochondria, found ways to live and reproduce by becoming permanent residents of others, playing central roles in their ability to live and reproduce. Many, many variations eventually resulted in the wonders of the world we experience today.
Among humans, a time comes in the life of each infant in which the mother’s milk, or its substitute, is no longer deemed sufficient by the child. Babies notice that others are eating. They see the companionship of family at mealtimes. They experience the peace and happiness of their families as they share a meal, laughing and talking as they eat. And then one day, sitting in the lap of a parent or other family member, they reach out for the food that is being eaten. They draw the hand holding the food towards themselves and the food into their mouths. They make a fuss if they are not being fed. They want to be part of the community, one of those sharing in the meal. They still need and want the milk that sustained them from birth, but that is no longer enough. They are ready for the next step, for the nourishment that comes with eating together in community, in family.
Where is food to be found?
For people who must travel, the question of where food will be found on the journey must always be addressed. Some areas are rich with food, both plant and animal in origin. Others are places of scarcity, deserts. Food is difficult to find and not always obvious to those new to the area.
Not long after the Hebrew people left Egypt in the Exodus, they discovered that traveling through a desert was not a picnic! It had been scary and exciting and an adventure during the first week or so, as they were chased by Pharoah’s army, crossed the sea on dry land, and then continued on into the land ahead of them. But soon any food they had was gone and food became scarce. They couldn’t return to Egypt, but they had always had food there. True, they had been badly treated and forced to work as slaves, but at least they had food… Egypt had plenty of food for all.
Complaints began to arise among the people. “Do you remember how good the bread was?” “Who could have guessed what was happening as we ate that last meal of lamb, unleavened bread, and herbs!” “Will we ever have enough to eat again?” “Why did we ever think Moses and Aaron knew what they were talking about?” “We should go back to Egypt!” Moses, Aaron, “… you had to lead us into this desert to make the whole community die of famine!”
The Lord heard their complaints and acted. “I will now rain down bread from heaven for you… In the evening twilight you shall eat flesh and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread, so that you may know that I, the Lord, am your God.”
Quail appeared every evening for the people to eat. In the morning, flakes fell from the sky. They had no idea what those were and called them “what’s-the-stuff,” (manna). This was the bread from heaven they were to eat. The quail and manna sustained them on their long journey through the desert. A gift from God, bread to eat. (Ex 16:2-4, 12-15)
Centuries later, Jesus fed a very large crowd who had come out to a deserted area to hear him teach. He had just a few small loaves of bread and a few fish. He blessed them, broke them, and shared them with the people there. All were fed and twelve baskets of left-overs were collected. The people wanted to make him a king. He and his friends slipped away in the evening. The next day, people found him again in Capernaum. “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Now he was called Rabbi, a term of honor.
Jesus was not fooled. “You are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled.” Jesus had something better in mind. “Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life.” And what food is this? The food that endures is that “which the Son of Man will give you.” Why? Because God is giving it to us through Jesus. The bread of God is the source of life for the world. Who is the bread of God? Jesus himself. “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” (Jn 6:24-35)
More than ordinary food
Food for eternal life. A life different from the everyday ordinary lives of men and women in the world before the coming of Jesus. A life in which we move from looking out for ourselves first and others later. A life in which we live in God’s way, as a community caring for each other. New people, new life, new future. (Eph 4:17, 20-24)
In many ways, moving into the life of God’s family is a lot like a baby reaching out for food with the family. There’s something more to be experienced, something more to share, something more to grow into. God’s food is so much more than the ordinary. Food for eternal life, food that brings goodness into everyday life. A food that feeds rich and poor, young and old, men and women, citizens and non-citizens, all of God’s creatures, large and small.
The love of God, shared with us through Jesus, food that endures for eternal life. Ready for all of us to share.
Readings for the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B
