WE human beings are rarely satisfied. This is what our First Lesson from Exodus reveals. What is it that we want? WE long to return from exile, but then—we wish that we had stayed in Egypt. “when we sat by the fleshpots and ate our fill of bread.” The manna falls from heaven, but—we clamor for meat.
These stories are familiar. The people eat their fill and are satiated—but—they are not satisfied. Their ingratitude toward God and God’s servants, and the forgiveness of God who brought them out of Egypt are NOT attractive qualities—BUT they are human qualities.
There is truth hidden beneath these stories—that the literalists fail to recognize. Literalism does NOT reveal truth: it hides it—we will see more of that in today’s Gospel from John.
WE are told that after their liberation in Egypt as they moved across the Sinai wilderness the people accused Moses and Aaron that they had brought then into the desert to starve them, after all at least in Egypt that had enough to eat. The Lord told Moses that, “I am going to rain bread from heaven for you.” I will “test” them whether or not they will follow my instructions, or not.
Moses tells the people that ( in effect) God will provide quail in the evening, and in the morning the ground will be covered with “manna” a fine flaky substance. Scholars tell us that quail migrate across the desert that that time of year, and the “manna” is the substance secreted by scale insects after they feed on tamarisk plants. IN any case, Moses tell the people “this is the bread that the Lord has given you to eat.”
IN today’s Gospel from John, Jesus tries to get the people to “look beyond” the literal—to the truth of God’s revelation. But they refuse to see it. Jesus says, “You are not looking for me because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.” Here Jesus is being a realist. He knows that they are looking for ACTUAL FOOD that only fills the stomach.
We meet Jesus in today’s gospel just after he has fed the multitudes. (Last Sunday’s Gospel). After everyone has had their fill of bread. They have had the pleasure of eating enough. We know that people have pushed away from the table Jesus set for them in the wilderness feeling sated, satisfied, because according to the story, there are even leftovers.
Funny thing about “enough.” Just what is “enough”?
The people Jesus had fed wanted a guarantee that they would always have enough. Jesus’ provision of plentiful bread seemed to them something they wanted more of. So they pursued him. They thought if they could have him, they could have bread – limitless, wonderful, unending bread. Enough.
Jesus fed hungry people. He knew people need to eat. He told his followers to feed people, real, physical, tangible, nutritious food. But he also promised that he himself would be enough.
He didn’t want to be just a provider of physical bread. He wants to be our bread – our sustenance, our nourishment, our daily strength, our source of satisfaction.
Jesus is bread, but he wants to fill the hunger of our hearts and not just our stomachs. He wants to fill the gnawing, aching emptiness that we try to fill with lesser things, to satisfy the longing or the boredom that we use substances of all sorts to quiet, to put an end to the grasping, fretting, worrying about having enough of anything that will in the end possess us, rather than allowing ourselves to fall into the hands of the one for whom we were made.
Jesus is daily sustenance. He is “bread” to be savored, gathered around. “ Bread” to inspire thanksgiving, to remind us of the wonder of life, to strengthen us. We can contemplate him, but we will gain more if we come to him as hungry beggars, open to whatever he places in our outstretched hands.
He was taken, blessed, and broken. He is to be shared. The sharing of his life invites us to exercise the creativity of an experienced bread-baker.
IN the Eucharist, we don’t merely listen to the words, “Take eat,” but we actually get up, come to the altar rail to take and eat. It Is not just the bread that we take , bless, break and give. God took Jesus’ whole life, blessed, broke, and gave it to us. We are to let that story of God’s love for us—take us, bless us, and give us back to the world.
Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry.”
AMEN
Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15
Psalm 51:1-13
Ephesians 4:1-16
John 6:24-35
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