>>>>CLICK HERE FOR FULL EMAIL VERSION

Over these past few weeks, we have encountered imagery of bread and eating in the lectionary readings. These stories should evoke for us the feast that is to come in the Gospel stories, that of the Last Supper, which is itself a preview of the Great Feast we are promised in the new heaven and new earth. The Gospels, however, never call that meal “the Last Supper” and it receives its name from Da Vinci’s famous painting. It being called the Last Supper seems to me to be a misnomer and if anything, it is the First Supper!

Jesus is the bread of life. He is what sustains us and satisfies our desires and needs in order that we might grow spiritually, which in turns helps us grow in all other ways as well. In the Old Testament reading, the Israelites are complaining because they would rather be in slavery than drudge through the wilderness. I can be a complainer. I recognize this in myself and am always working to recognize the blessings I have in my life. Gratitude is key when fighting the ungratefulness that complaining usually stems from. In the Letter to the Ephesians, Paul talks about maturity that we are called to in our life in Christ. I know I need to reflect on this often. God knows and hears our complaints, and He will answer them.  In what ways may we need to spiritually grow so that we may feast on the bread of life, grateful of what our God has done, allowing the complaining that hardens our hearts to melt away? 

Yours in Christ,
Fr. Zach