We touch upon several great moments of truth in the readings today. Joshua commands the Israelites: “Decide today whom you will serve,” and they chose the Lord.
We’re learning that it takes wisdom to understand God’s simple desire that we love one another. Jesus is telling the people that God is their food, their life, their only hope for everlasting joy, but they keep wanting more signs, explanations, and clarifications.
The readings today make it clear that God nourishes and sustains us, but the food God gives us is to strengthen us to do God’s work. The more we take and eat of the bread of life, the deeper we are drawn into Christ’s life and to his way of life: that of caring, serving, forgiving, trusting, and, most of all, loving.
Manna from heaven is what we’re all waiting for. But we keep looking up to the sky to find it, instead of in the body of Christ, namely our sisters and brothers.
Although the disciples don’t have a clue where to get enough food for the hungry crowd, Jesus feeds the multitudes because a boy offered the little bit he had.
Jesus and the disciples are overwhelmed by the crowds seeking the Lord. Despite their need for rest and relaxation, Jesus is moved with pity and continues his teaching.
Jesus instructs his disciples to possess nothing for their journey of evangelization. He stresses the need to be divested of the world in order to be totally invested in the Kingdom.
The folks in Jesus’ hometown give him a hard time. They are offended because one so familiar to them presumes to teach such astonishing things.
Jesus goes beyond the customs and religious sensibilities of his people. He reacts favorably to a forbidden touch and challenges death to give back a life.
Where does God or your faith “amaze” you? The neighbors and relatives of Elizabeth were amazed not only at the fact that the new baby was going to have a name different from his ancestors but also that Zechariah confirmed it by being released from his muteness—and the first thing Zechariah did was to burst forth blessing God.