04 Aug 2018
THRIVE, NOT JUST SURVIVE
“I am the bread of life,” says Jesus. The life that Jesus offers is a full life. It is not just existing. Today’s first reading portrays the manna in the desert as food that just kept people alive. The life that Jesus offers, the life that Jesus is, is the fullness of life. It is thriving rather than just surviving.
For many people in our world, life is a struggle for existence. Billions of our brothers and sisters spend most of their time and energy each day finding enough food, clothing, and shelter in order to survive, barely. Many others live lives that are hemmed in by alcohol, drugs, fear, the pursuit of wealth, of comfort, or of fame. So many people are only living a shadow of the lives that God wishes for them. Jesus is the bread that gives fullness of life rather than just partial life.
At the Eucharist, we are fed by the Bread of life. Not just in the sacrament, but in the Word and in the gathering. God feeds us in so many ways and not just at the Eucharist. When we stop to pray or reflect during our busy day, God feeds us. If we read God’s Word, we are fed. Time spent with fellow Christians focusing on love of God and of our neighbour nourishes us. Our whole week can be Eucharistic, a feast on the Bread of life.
The Father’s desire for us is the fullness of life. A life where we know that we are loved unconditionally and where we can love others. This life is sustained and nourished by the Bread of life. It is a life not measured by likes or retweets. Rather it is a full, thriving life rooted in the life of God.
Fr Con O’Connell MSC