My friends, for several weeks now, we have been talking about, “the bread of life,” and we continue that theme today because that is what the Scriptures are giving us in today’s readings.  Additionally, each reading from the Old Testament through to the New Testament speaks of the “bread” that feeds us in so many ways; physically, emotionally, and spiritually, letting us know that “this bread” is intended to expand beyond the physical need for food. 

   The first reading from Kings shows us the prophet, Elijah, who is near despair, letting us know that being a prophet is simply hard work.  This prophet says, “I have had enough” and asks God, “to take his life.”  Throughout the course of our lives, in times of trouble—in sickness, frustration with others who seemingly should know better, and act better—family members and friends, through loss of people, and worldly goods, we may have felt as Elijah did, and in our faith, or seeming, lack of it, we have turned to our God. 

   This first reading today from Kings, also lets us know, as it no doubt did Elijah, that our God is consistent and constant.  Our God loved Elijah and does us as well, in an over-the-top way.  God sends an angel with food for Elijah’s body, and a command, “to rest,” which will not only help him physically, but emotionally, and spiritually, to continue his God-given ministry, in the face of seemingly, no progress. 

   We see too, that our God is loving enough to check back, a second time, through the same angel, to make sure that Elijah has all that he needs.  Thus, we can be sure my friends, that God will care for us in like manner.  The psalmist confirms God’s constancy—“O taste and see that God is good [!]”

   Even though our God is always willing to help, we humans have the tendency to see, “the glass half-empty rather than half-full,” and need to be given that extra support.  Enter, our brother Jesus.  In this One who looked and acted like us, we see our God’s most compassionate love for us.  Jesus, in taking on our humanity, was then able to empathize with our human weakness, thus allowing God to love us even more. 

   It is out of this great love for humanity that our God through Jesus gave us the beautiful story of The Prodigal—the loving parent forgiving a lost-for-a-time child, and running to meet this one upon their return, and take them home.  My friends, this should confirm within us that our God will be there for us too, never leaving us alone. 

   So, knowing that we are so loved, should give us the strength, like Elijah, to continue our God’s mission on earth.  And if we are wondering what this “mission” should look like, Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians today, makes it abundantly clear: “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, all harsh words, slander and malice of every kind—in their place, be kind to one another, compassionate and mutually forgiving—imitate God as beloved children.”  No doubt, Paul, even though he never knew the physical Jesus in life, studied his works, and deeds, and proceeded to act accordingly, encouraging his followers to do the same. 

   I believe we all instinctively know and believe the old adage: “You can catch more—with honey, than with vinegar.” Not wanting to get political, I would simply lift up “the new tone” within our country in the last few weeks, hearing the words, “kindness, hope, joy, and so on. 

   Looking one last time at today’s gospel, I believe it is important to lift up Jesus’ words, wherein he proclaims that he is, “living bread [!]”  I would suggest that the word, “living” speaks about “action,” not “passive adoration” as was suggested and promoted by the recent Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. 

   Jesus was always about, in my read of Scripture, listening to, reaching out, touching, healing, forgiving, and so on—to those in his world—he was truly, “alive” in his human encounters, taking each where they were.

   As the past Eucharistic Congress continues to be evaluated, especially since this wasn’t a “one-off” event—another is being planned for next year, I wanted to quote a few, notable folks’ assessments of the event. 

   Jesuit Father Thomas Reese, whose columns appear regularly for Religious News Services,’  “Signs of the Times,” and in The National Catholic Reporter (NCR), had this to say in a piece entitled, “Eucharistic Revival misses how synodality makes for better Eucharist:”

          A central part of the parish and diocesan phase of the synodal process   is “conversation in the Spirit,” in which … groups of 10 listen to each other about issues facing the church.  The process builds communion and encourages participation in the mission of Jesus. It is easy to see how this process could translate into participation in the Eucharist, the sacrament of Communion that empowers the Christian community to participate in the mission of Jesus of spreading the Good News of [God’s] love, and our responsibility to love all our brothers and sisters.  But the Eucharistic Revival has a completely different focus.  It is more about Benediction, where the consecrated bread is worshipped, then about Eucharist, where the community is fed.  Reese completes his assessment by saying that synodality is about communion, participation, and mission; so too, is the Eucharist.  Too bad the Eucharistic Revival is not. 

   Also, in the most recent NCR, Bishop Lizardo Estrado Herrara, of Cuzco, Peru was even more pointed in assessing the Eucharistic Congress: “You can’t kneel with reverence before the Eucharist while also rejecting the poor, including immigrants, working toward measures that lead to their deaths or lack of dignity.” 

   Again, my read of Scripture, specifically Jesus’ action in his world, would uplift what these two men of the church are saying, and probably cause Jesus to shake his head in disbelief over the efforts of those within the Eucharistic Revival. 

   Our God, my friends, is a universal God—here for each and every one of us—bringing life to the fullest, if we can simply be, “the bread” needed at any given time. Our world doesn’t need our “adoration,” but our “action,” truly “imitating” our brother, Jesus, who said, “I am the bread, [coming] from heaven.” Because we are part of this great family, aren’t we too part of the “same loaf” —doesn’t our reception of the bread and wine, at the table, here, make us then, the “body and blood of Christ in our world, with the expectation that we will share this with others?”  I would say we are, and it does! And even though we may be tired of it all at times, and maybe have no answers to present-day problems, we have to keep in the game! We may need a nap, some bread and water, like Elijah, and the knowledge that as Jesus said, “I will be with you all days,” and, holding onto that, we can and must, keep moving into our world, with love.  Amen?  Amen!