This weekend’s scripture readings get to the heart of what it means to be a Christian in the reality of the world in which we live. Whether we are in on the top of the mountain or facing challenges, the Bread of Life and the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives provide us with the grace to face tomorrow, to continue our journey of faith.
We encounter Elijah at a low point in his life. He was tired and frustrated. He tried his best and was now ready to quit. But God had a different plan. God gave him bread from heaven to strengthen him as he journeyed toward the mountain of God. When he reached the mountain, when he encountered God, he was strengthened and was ready to go forth and begin anew.
St. Paul reminds us that we are called to let go of anger, jealousy, bitterness, and malice and to embrace our call to be peacemakers, to love one another, and to forgive one another. When we pray the Lord’s Prayer, we pray “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” In other words, there is a dynamic of forgiveness that calls us to recognize God’s forgiveness of our mistakes in life so that we can extend that forgiveness to one another.
The Holy Spirit gives us the grace to forgive, to love, to show compassion, even when our instincts, our human reactions, want to lash out in anger or to seek revenge when we are wronged. In Jesus, we are nourished and strengthened by the Bread of Life, so that we can continue our journey. The Holy Spirit leads us forward so that the dynamic of forgiveness, compassion, and love that comes to us from God can be shared with one another.
My friends, we have an opportunity as God’s beloved to encounter the Risen Lord when we gather as community, when we come together to break open the Word and feast on the Bread of Life, so that we can go forth to journey in faith, strengthened and renewed.
May God bless you and your loved ones today, tomorrow, and forever more.
Fr. Harry