God Feeds Us
Posted by Tom and April Hoopes in Faith on Saturday, August 08, 2009 6:00 AM
(In this weekly column, Tom and April Hoopes share family-friendly ways of observing the liturgical year and celebrating the Sunday readings.)
Aug. 9 Readings
1 Kings 19:4-8; Psalm 34:2-9; Ephesians 4:30-5:2; John 6:41-51
Our Take
Last Sunday’s readings were about God’s totally gratuitous, over-the-top way of answering prayer. Today’s are, in part, about what turns out to be an even greater kindness in God: His refusal to answer some prayers.
In the first reading, Elijah has been experiencing God not answering prayers during a long journey. He kept faithful to God, until he’s at his wit’s end. Then, “He prayed for death,” says the text.
But he did it in a surrendered, humble and faithful way, leaving the matter in the Lord’s hands.
Then he learned why God had not given him what he needed for so long: He wanted him to learn that God is even more faithful to us than we are to ourselves.
An angel not only gave him food and drink — which he didn’t ask for — he gave it in such a way that it would sustain Elijah for 40 days. In the Gospel, God also has to give the people what they need against their own protestations.
They were getting more than they bargained for in the Eucharist, and they “murmured against him.” To those who murmured against him, he shows patience and generosity again.
He gives them the Eucharist — himself — in their hands.
Print Blog
Email a FriendPost a Comment
By submitting this form, you give Faith And Family Magazine permission to publish this comment. Comments will be published at our discretion, and may be edited for clarity and length. For best formatting, please limit your response to one paragraph and don't hit "enter" to force line breaks.
