Manna

Manna

When Moses and the Israelites, there was much grumbling and complaining. God came to the rescue and provided for them. He gave Manna from heaven, and also quail in the evening. On the day before Sabbath, God gave them a double portion, so that the people wouldn't have to work on the Sabbath, which is a day of rest (because God rested on the 7^th day). How wonderful is God!

Imagine how this must have been for the Israelites. They could trust that God would take care of them. They experience this wonderful miracle while they are close to starvation. But over time, the people grew tired of the bread of heaven, the Manna. (Manna means: What is it?) At the beginning, it was a great and wonderful miracle. But over time, they began to lose sight of this great miracle and gift. They began to lose sight of how gracious God has been for them.

We are very blessed with the greatest miracle of all, as we believe that Christ is present at Mass. The ordinary bread and wine are transformed into the sacred body and blood of Christ. Day in and day out, year, year after year, the same miracle happens on countless altars throughout the world. It can sometimes feel like a routine. And like the Israelites, we may even lose sight of this great miracle and how special it is. But we must not let that happen.

Story: I heard stories of remote regions of Africa, where Mass is not celebrated daily or weekly, but only once a month. And the people turn in out in large numbers, because it was such a rare occasion, the people came in droves to attend Mass.

Before God gave the people Manna in the desert, the people faced the real threat of starvation in the wildnerness of Sinai. Similarly, if we didn't have Jesus' body and blood, to nourish our soul, to give us grace and strength, we too would be lost in the desert of this world. There would be little hope of reaching the promised land of heaven.

Let us treasure this miracle, and value this miracle and be gracious to God for this miracle. That Christ is mysteriously present with us, and let us be open to God's power and grace.