God Is With Us
Crisis is defined as “a condition of instability or danger, as in social, economic, political, or international affairs, leading to a decisive change.”
A crisis can be like a stretch of time that is desolate and empty, when times become difficult. We have all experienced them in life. It can also happen in our spiritual life. A faith crisis. Praying becomes difficult. We have doubts about God. Attending Mass becomes a challenge. We struggle in our relationship with God. The people of Israel wandered through the desert for 40 years. Certainly, they experienced many desolate and lonely stretches. At times, their hunger must have been so strong that they wished they were slaves again...at least they would have food to eat, preferring a lack of freedom over hunger. Returning to Egypt would have meant a different kind of slavery.
Barren stretch
Ten to twenty years from now, if we were to look back at the past five years in history, what would we think?What would have happened to the worries and concern that most people have had and continue to have? What will have changed in our lives as a result of the various crisis’ we have lived through? Or have we quickly returned to business as usual without much thought to the pandemic crisis, the financial crisis, climate crisis and war? How have these crises affected our personal and spiritual faith life? Our life together as a community? Our personal relationship with God? I somehow think we are going through a dramatic dry spell.
Do these desolate and lonely stretches have a deeper meaning? We only seem to perceive thirst as thirst when we are dying of thirst. We only truly experience hunger as hunger when we are starving. When isolation and fears drive us into the depths of darkness and loneliness, we long for closeness and security.
Life is more than food and drink
And what does God do? God allows us to go through these desolate times because they force us to reflect on what’s important in life. We learn to rely and trust on God instead of ourselves. In this evening’s First Reading (Dt. 8:2-3, 14b-16a) Moses reminds the Israelites that it was God who directed their journeying in the desert. It was God who let them be afflicted with hunger. It was God who gave them manna. When they suffered from hunger, the Israelites experienced one thing: We are first blessed by God. We are solely dependent on Him. He gave the Israelites manna and made water spring from the rock. Moses reminds the Israelites of how lovingly God cares for them and does not abandon them.These desolate and barren stretches should remind us of a path to freedom. Freedom from hunger, freedom from thirst. Freedom to celebrate life, love, joy, peace, justice, fellowship and community. Freedom to celebrate the safeguard of creation. And even freedom to celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi. This feast which we celebrate today means that God walks with us, even in difficult times - especially during the times of desolation and loneliness.
We can truly believe that He does not leave us alone. Not during these past years of crisis, not now, not ever. To believe in God, is to know that we are blessed by Him. To believe in God means to live. Living leads to freedom. God gives us life.
Jesus gives life and community.
The love and care that we get from God, His Word, is given to us in Jesus. God created a fulfilled life for us, for a life that is meant to be in His presence, for a life where we can experience His love. It is the eternal life that Jesus promises. Jesus is the bread for us. He invites us to receive HIM. Jesus invites us to live in relationship, friendship, and community with HIM. Friends, this is the message of the feast we celebrate today, Corpus Christi. God grants us His presence everywhere. God, in Jesus, in His Word, in the sacrament, in the presence of our fellow human beings. He wants to nourish us with His Word and His sacrament – it is the divine manna from heaven.
As we pray together during the Eucharist Prayer, let us be transformed with the Body and Blood of Christ. As we meet Jesus in the Eucharist, let us be nourished so that we will be filled and united with Him, because whoever eats this bread will live forever.
“Laudetur Jesus Christus - In saecula saeculorum”
“Praise be Jesus Christ - Now and forever, Amen!”