August 2, 2009: 18th Sunday in OT. B.

The first reading and the Gospel for this weekend are “Eucharistic readings,” in that they are all about Thanksgiving to an Abundant God Who Provides For Us In Our Hunger. The first reading is sort of humorous–in a wry sort of way–the people actually have enough to eat...God is giving them plenty of the miraculous Manna, for Heaven’s sake, BUT they are “tired of it!” Like kids, they say, “Not again! Don’t You have anything ELSE?” And, sure enough, God does! In the Gospel, we are told that in Eucharist (the entire 6th chapter of John from which this reading comes is a meditation on Eucharist,) it is Christ, Himself, that we will receive–a Gift that will, when properly “digested,” overcome all other desires, and fill us beyond measure. That is the Gift give you at this service. God, the second person of the Trinity, incarnated in Jesus Christ, comes to you and fills you. You shall be “full of God,” in a sense. May our lives reflect that profound Mystery!