[stephenkhoo]

ONLY THE BREAD OF LIFE CAN SATISFY US

SCRIPTURE READINGS: NUM 11:4-15; MT 14:13-21

We see a parallel between the incidents presented in today’s scripture readings. Both groups of people were at the desert and they were hungry. Moses and the disciples of Jesus were also challenged to feed the crowd. In the end, both groups were given the Bread of Heaven. But the similarities between them go only as far as these. The contrast between them is more remarkable.

In the first place, the Israelites during the time of Moses were always grumbling and complaining. They were never satisfied. They complained that they did not have the basic necessities, that is, they had no bread. After God had showered the manna on them; they complained about not having meat. Then God sent them the quails. But the demands of the Israelites did not end here. Yes, the desires of the people could not be satisfied. In exasperation, Moses, burdened by his responsibility of leading the people from Egypt, complained to God and wanted to end his life. He felt he could no longer lead the people whom God asked him to deliver from the hands of the Egyptians.

In contrast, the Jews during the time of Jesus never complained. They were hungry undoubtedly. But it was the disciples of Jesus who were sensitive to their predicament. They proposed to Jesus that He dismiss the crowd so that they could buy food for themselves. However, Jesus responded by telling His disciples that they feed the people themselves. And in the end, the people were fed with just five loaves and two fish and they had leftovers.

The question is, why did the people during the time of Jesus not complain and could easily be satisfied with a few loaves and two fish whereas the Israelites in the desert were dissatisfied even though they had manna and meat? The real problem lies in this – they did not receive the Bread of Life before they received the bread for their physical needs. That is to say, because they had not received the heart of God, they remained restless and discontented. Furthermore, because they failed to listen to God’s word, they began to lack trust in God’s love and providential care.

On the other hand, the disciples and the Jews listened to the preaching of Jesus first. Thus, after receiving the Bread of Life from Jesus, they began to understand the essentials of life. Firstly, they understood the Father’s love and His providence. They did not doubt that God would look after their needs. The disciples trusted in Jesus when He told them to bring the five loaves and two fish so that these could be shared by all.

Secondly, after listening to Jesus, the disciples and the Jews realized that more than physical food, love and service are even more important. And it is not improbable that the five loaves and two fish symbolized each person taking out what little he or she had to share with the others. In this way, the food was multiplied and there were leftovers at the end of the meal. Whatever it is, the fact remains that all of them were truly satisfied even if they had not much to eat.

Hence, we can see that people who have no spiritual life and who have no desire for the deeper things of life will always live on the peripheral level, pursuing mundane things which do not give them real and lasting satisfaction. Inevitably, they will always remain dissatisfied. But when a person has been touched by the love of God; or when he comes to understand the deeper realities of life as he comes to know God, then he would realize that all that he has in life are insignificant, compared to the greater joy he has found in being with God and his fellow human beings. Why is that so? As scripture says “Man does not live by bread alone but on every Word that comes from the mouth of God.” Because man is a spiritual being, he constantly searches to be united with His Creator. St Augustine understood this when he exclaimed in revelation “Our hearts are restless till they rest in thee.” When we have found true joy and love in the Lord, there is very little else that we need.

Consequently, if we want lasting fulfillment, we should “Seek first the Kingdom of God and all these other things will be given as well.” How then, do we seek God and His Kingdom? It is by getting to know Jesus, the Bread of Life come down from Heaven. “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, says the Lord; No one can come to the Father except through me.” We have thus to be nourished by the Lord in prayer, the Word and the Eucharist. We are told that when the people heard that Jesus had left with his disciples in the boat, “leaving the towns, they went after him on foot.” Are we hungry for God? Do we make time in the hustle and bustle of our lives to be nourished by the Lord? Are spiritual retreats or holidays more a priority for us? More often than not, it is only when we are in crisis that we turn to the Lord, even blaming Him as the Israelites did.

Hence, unless we have received Jesus as the Bread of Life, the manna from Heaven, the Word of God, we can never be contented in life and our cravings will never cease. But once we have the Life of God in us, everything else will be accepted gratefully; and even if we do not have them, we will not really miss them nor desire them. So today, let us not be afraid to bring our meager desire and efforts at spiritual growth to the Lord. “Bring them here to me” He said. “Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, raised His eyes to heaven and said the blessing. They all ate as much as they wanted.” Let us therefore take the first step to the Lord, and surely in His infinite mercy and love, He will not only satisfy our needs but will multiply the blessings abundantly, so that they will be shared joyfully with others.
Written by The Most Rev William Goh