Readings: Numbers 11:4b-15; Psalm 81; Matthew 14:13-21
Today’s readings provide different reactions to stressful and difficult situations. Life is full of challenges that constantly test us. Can we grow in faith and persevere through them? Or do we resort to complaints and recriminations, possibly that do not even reflect reality? Sadly, the answer for us is yes: we are capable of all these reactions. What can we learn from them?
In the first reading, Moses is weary of his people’s complaints about their living conditions during their flight from Egypt. They can remember only the good things about their former life in the promised land, a land with fish, and animals and vegetables, good food, “flowing with milk and honey”. But there was also slavery and oppression: they had prayed for deliverance from those things for many years. what about that? They forgot about it: they are “hungry” but still eating pretty well every day with food that comes from the very hand of God.
Moses’ prayers are remarkably candid. He subtly reminds God of His duty as the “father” of this people, and he complains about his responsibility as the leader of this people. He refers to himself as an unwilling foster father carrying around a child not his own. What is one to do about this burden – bear up under it? Or die first? Poor Moses. But one cannot help smile when reading his complaints. We have all been there in our own way. Our humanity is brittle: we are prone to break down from time to time. Or as we say sometimes, we blow a gasket.
The Gospel shows us that our Lord is not just a type of savior like Moses but the Savior of the World. The death of his cousin, John the Baptist, hit Jesus hard. He withdrew for a time of prayer and reflection, but the needy people still found him. Instead of telling them to go home and give him some space, which he probably needed, Jesus pities them and meets their needs. Note that Jesus decided to do a little outsourcing when it came to their need for food. He told the disciples to “give them some food yourselves.” They rustled up some loaves and fish, that were inadequate, but Jesus showed himself to be the Lord of all creation through His work of miraculous multiplication. In doing so, he allowed the disciples to participate in that miracle, to sense this wonder, and to grow their faith.