More than Enough

08-04-2024Weekly ReflectionFr. Aruldoss

Dear people of God,

Good morning to you all. May our mighty God bless you with His choicest blessings.

On this Eighteenth Sunday, encourages us to trust in God’s care, renew our lives, and seek spiritual nourishment in Jesus. The first reading from the Book of Exodus reflects the grumbling against Moses and Aaron, which is a way of grumbling against God. Then God provided bread and meat to the Israelites in the desert, showing His care for their physical needs.

Today’s gospel reading is the continuation of last weekend’s gospel reading. Jesus performed the miracle of multiplication of bread and fish. All who were there ate and were satisfied. However, like the Israelites, his followers become obsessed with food. They were carried away by physical hunger. They came to search for their daily bread but, failed to recognize that Christ was the bread of life. finally Jesus reminds them to “not work for food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life.”

Hence in our second reading, knowing that we are on a spiritual journey Paul advised us: “…you must give up your old way of life…which is corrupted by following illusory desires. Your mind must be renewed by a spiritual revolution.” Illusory desires prevent us from appreciating God’s goodness. They leave us with spiritual starvation. Spiritual starvation is the root of all weaknesses. It exposes one to every kind of danger. So, to put on the new man means to protect and nourish our soul spiritually, especially, when our physical body is weak and suffers.

Actually, the multiplication of the loaves prefigures Jesus at the Last Supper and every Eucharistic meal we celebrate at Mass. He is present in the Holy Eucharist. Each time we celebrate Him, we celebrate and receive life. He strengthened the Israelites in the desert when: “He gave them bread from heaven.” Hence, to strengthen us for our spiritual journey on earth, Christ offers us himself at every Mass. We are indeed blessed as we pray at every Mass: “Blessed are those called to the Lord’s supper.” Have a Happy Sunday!