He said to them, "Give them some food yourselves."
... and (Jesus) gave (the loaves and fish) to the disciples to set before the crowd.
They all ate and were satisfied.
And when the leftover fragments were picked up,
they filled twelve wicker baskets.
When Jesus commanded the disciples to feed the crowd -- "Give them some food yourselves!" -- they hadn't a clue what he might mean. They had no more provisions than the hungry mob before them.
But, a moment later, they obeyed. All the people ate and were satisfied.
As we ponder the mystery of the Mass we have to notice our participation. How did we come to be here? What do we do now that we are here?
If Easter celebrates the Resurrection of the Lord, the entire ninety-day season from Ash Wednesday to Pentecost celebrates our participation in the life, death and resurrection of God.
And we have seen the "death of God."
It began innocuously, as we discovered that the machines we had built -- from watches to automobiles to computers and beyond -- work quite well without prayer. We don't turn on motors with an incantation but with the flip of a switch. Eventually we discovered the predictability of physics and chemistry. Even fluids became predictable, including rivers, magma and the weather. Finally, perhaps with less assurance, scientists study human behavior including economics, sociology and politics. (Although they're regarded as soft science.")
In any case, we have seen God "withdraw" -- or pushed out -- of human life by our confident belief in Science. Now we think of war as unfortunate but necessary, and not as God's punishment for our sins, The other horsemen of Apocalypse, famine and pestilence can be managed with better political and economic policies. And death might yet be subdued by our sciences!
In some ways, Jesus' command is doable! We can "give them food yourselves." In the last quarter century the food sciences have improved even as the "population explosion" is becoming an "implosion." We can feed them! And provide clothing, health care, education, cultural enrichment and opportunity -- as we are directed and driven by the Spirit of God.
If God is hidden from us, it's not because he has withdrawn or been pushed out; it is because we are reluctant to fulfill his command.
The Mass -- "Corpus Christi" -- celebrates our willingness to be fed by Jesus and our willingness to feed others. Drawn to our fascinating Savior by his enthusiastic Spirit, we come before Our Father to praise the Name of God. When we pray we can almost hear the tramp of marching saints and the flutter of angel wings. The End is in sight.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.