Moses had to deal with deathwishers and accusators.
They want to be dead in the House of Slavery.
They do not recognize that God is leading them to the Promised Land.
This is the pagan way St. Paul is talking about. This is to live as pagans do.
How often are we victims of wrong accusations and bad words?
The Lord is helping and protecting his servant. It is God’s word defending Moses in front of the attackers.
His servant knows the mystery of God’s bread. Moses knows what manna is.
The trouble is that they are looking for some God of the dead, not the God of the living.
This is the illusion St. Paul is mentioning.
The signs are only instruments, only signs.
Already in the depths of the Old Testament the real wish and the yearning of the Lord is that they know him.
That they come to know that he, the Lord, is their God.
That he is our God.
He wanted to be with us and to belong to the same community. This is the goal.
That’s why bread from heaven in the morning, and flesh in the evening on the way to promised land
That’s why Jesus made the miracle and gave food to many.
God’s covenant with his people is the question of knowledge and love, the question of life-long belonging. Not only of eating material food.
By pointing out each day in the Old Testament we have today a wonderful formula how to became the new man
– looking for Jesus
– looking back to the personal history to discover were it was not Moses, but God himself working his deeds.
– looking forward to the gift from heaven, that is praying, as we do now.
It’s a fact. By coming to this mass you confirm the truth of the word of the Lord that we are capable of working for eternal life, not only for perishable food.
When you come to the Eucharist, you are working for food that remains unto life eternal.
You came here and you are welcome because you put your faith in the One God sent. And, according to this same Jesus, that’s how you perform a work of God.
There are no more only signs. They are important. Bread and wine, we bring to the altar. Bread representing our deeds and experiences, wine expressing our desires and emotions.
But now we have much more than signs only. We enjoy the living presence of the Person we know – we got to know him especially through his cross and his resurrection. It’s the living presence of God’s bread – Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
(Prayer of the faithful:)
To God, whose goodness we know let us bring our prayers in confidence and hope.
For the Holy Father, bishops, priest and all the faithful:
May God show us his protection and help where we need it at most.
For this beautiful city of Dubrovnik and all who com here looking for rest and joy:
May they find not only recreation for the body but also the inner light to put their faith in Jesus.
For all of us gathered to this Eucharist:
May we experience the life coming from God’s bread.
For our families and relatives who are elsewhere:
May we find how great it is to perform the works of God together.
For all who finished their pilgrimage of faith:
May they enjoy eternal light and peace.
God, our Father, you know what we need, before we even ask. Hear the prayers of your Church through Christ, our Lord.
B Sunday 18
August 2nd 2009
