Food for the Journey

The people who experienced and shared in the bountiful meal of bread and fish continued to follow Jesus. Jesus points out to them that they are following him because they have enjoyed the food that he provided for them and was physically satisfying. Jesus takes the opportunity to begin a dialogue about their deeper needs. “Work for the food that endures to eternal life.” The one work which earns this food is believing in the one that God has sent. The people promptly ask Jesus for a sign: a sign to help them believe in him. A sign like the manna their fathers ate in the desert! They said Moses had provided this special food. Jesus says no, it was not Moses but God who fed the people in the desert. When Jesus points this out he is comparing himself to the God who now gives bread from heaven: Jesus declares that he himself is the bread of life, the bread that came down from heaven. Whoever believes in him will never be hungry. Like the people who followed Jesus into the desert, we too long for the food that lasts forever, the food of eternal life. The promise Jesus held out to them is held out to us today. It is a promise fulfilled in the Eucharist that we now celebrate. We all hunger for this food which will give us the strength we need on our journey through the desert of life! We hunger for a love that does not disappoint; we hunger for a word that does not fade away; we hunger for a bread that does not fail to satisfy. In this Eucharist, the love of a tender God is offered to us in the word and sacrament! At every Mass we are nourished by God’s word and the bread of life. Our lives lead us into the wilderness of a world where our faith and values are challenged. We need nourishing food if we are going to have the strength to persevere on our path. Such food is available. Jesus is the true Bread who in the Eucharist, the scriptures and prayer, offers himself as nourishment for our souls!

Quote:

Loving God by Selfless Service:

“Jesus offered to satisfy the physical hunger of the people gathered around him, by a miracle, but on one condition. They must believe him to be the Messiah, sent with the message that God is a loving, holy and forgiving Father, and not a punishing judge! Believing in Jesus is not simply an intellectual assent, but authentic, total commitment, loyalty and solidarity. It follows that, since God is our loving Father, we too must love all his children by humble, self-giving service; and, since God is holy, we too must live holy lives.” (Father Tony: Homily Outlines)

Seton Legacy of Charity

From July 31 through August 2, 2009, the Sisters of Charity throughout the United States will commemorate two hundred years of history, charity and dedication that was begun by a small band of young women under the inspiration of Elizabeth Ann Seton.

It is a time of rejoicing and celebration as we honor the life and accomplishment of a remarkable woman, mother, convert, and foundress – the first native-born American saint and the one basically responsible for the Catholic school system in the U.S. Churches will ring their bells at 12:00 noon in observance of the historic occasion.

Our Women’s Club will have a short ceremony to offer prayers at her statue after the 10:30 Mass today. See the Coming Events page for the Prayer to St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.