August 3, 2009 Monday

Monday August 3, 2009 of the 18th Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Numbers 11: 4b-15 Psalm 81: 12-17 Matthew 14: 13-21
Psalm Response: “Sing with joy to God our help”

The Book of Numbers verses we read today are a reiteration of words from the book of Exodus, we read last week. This writer makes Moses like an arbiter with God. After all, he didn’t ask for or want to do God’s work. Now the people are ready to stone him because they have only manna to eat.
So, Moses asks God to relieve him of his task to lead these hard nose into the land God had promised them.
God listened to Moses and in a later episode provided for their hunger for meat. Is it any wonder He gave into their pleas?
Are we like the people of Israel, never satisfied but wanting more than they need? Seems as though no matter what blessings God grants us and our country, our constant cry is for more. Perhaps we should take God’s omnipotence for granted; expect him to provide us with the talent or resources to help ourselves or have Faith enough to allow Him to grant our wishes, when it is for our spiritual welfare.

As a follow-up to the first reading, the Church wisely chose psalm 81 and its response to instruct us in how to do His will. We are not in command! He Is! So, sing to God our help.

The miracle of the loaves and fishes is a foretast of God’s ability to feed us with the Bread and Wine, His Body and Blood.
Our Church is not a desert place but it is remote from any resource to feed our need. In the same way, our priests raise the Host and the Cup in consecration to allow is to have life as Christ promised. Otherwise, we are starving.
When the source of life is available and we are not satisfied with the provisions of our Church, there is no where else to turn; for otherwise, Christ’s Body and Blood is not available anywhere else.
Pray God will sustain our Church as He sustained the Israelites in the desert and on the grass of the mountainside.