The Nazareth Page - A gospel meditation for your home

August 11, 2024 – Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mark 6:41-51

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
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When we think of food for ourselves and our families, we think of a grocery store, a supermarket or a giant box store. We choose from hundreds, perhaps even thousands of products that will satisfy our hunger.

But in the culture and time of Jesus food was always local. Grain was grown from seed, harvested when ripe, then sorted and crushed to make flour. The flour was then made moist, kneaded and baked over a fire. What resulted was bread. And bread sustained their lives. Where Jesus lived having enough bread meant survival.

So, it should not be surprising when Jesus wanted to teach us about the precious gift of life given to us by God, he pointed to consuming bread as a necessary ingredient of that life. He provided food in the form of bread for the crowds following him. And when it was close to the end of his earthly life at his last meal before he died, he took bread and wine and changed them into his own body and blood. And he directed his disciples to continue this action in the time ahead.

Years ago, I experienced a new insight (for me) about the Eucharist. Basically, it came to me that not only do we receive Jesus, but Jesus also receives us. And Jesus now risen is one who embodies the whole of creation. This is what theologians name as “the whole Christ.” Jesus is intimately connected to all creation.  the

When Father Teilhard de Chardin, SJ, found himself in the middle of the Gobi desert in eastern China without the elements of bread and wine, he composed a meditation on what he called “the Mass of the World.” He recalled that Jesus became part of creation to transformer all of creation into the Body of Christ. This insight into this expanded understanding of Christ is found in his book, The Hymn of the Universe. Of course, this is not identical with the sacrament to the Eucharist, but there are similarities.

St. Paul writes about the expansion of Christ into all creation. This insight was later described as “the mystical body of Christ.” So, just as God sent manna from heaven to feed the Israelites on their journey out of Egypt, so God sends to us heavenly bread that is transformed into the Body of Christ. It is given to us, to the whole world and even to the entire cosmos. God becomes present to all creation and all creation is invited to be present to God.  

David M. Thomas, PhD