Inbox Inspiration: August 2, 2020: 18th Sunday of Ordinary Time

18th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Cycle A


Jesus says: “Give them some food yourselves.”
A lot of people are gathered around Jesus, and it is getting to be evening. 
They are hungry, and the disciples want Jesus to send them away to go get food for themselves.
But Jesus says: “Give them some food yourselves.” 
I think he is saying the same thing to us – today!
We are not to ignore the people who are hungry in the Philippines, Kenya, Haiti, Guatemala or Baltimore City. 
Our resources are limited, just as the resources of the disciples were limited. 
But Jesus tells each of us to do what we can.
If we sincerely do that, apparently there will be enough to go around.
There is something else in this gospel that is very significant.
The disciples bring Jesus the loaves of bread and the fish that they have.
And what does the passage say? 
“Taking the loaves, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples…” 
These are the same words the Scripture uses to describe the Last Supper. 
Jesus takes…looks up…blesses…breaks…and gives. 
So, Jesus is connecting physical food and spiritual food.
I think the connection happens in this way.
If we receive the spiritual food, Jesus’ Body and Blood, we are to be so changed and transformed that we will have to share physical food with those who are hungry. 
We cannot do otherwise.
Father Pedro Arrupe used to be the Father General of the Jesuits, and he put it this way. 
“We cannot properly receive the Bread of life without sharing bread for life with those in want.”
Isn’t that a great way of stating it?  
“We cannot properly receive the Bread of life without sharing bread for life with those in want.”

Father Michael Schleupner

In addition to the usual Wednesday edition of Inbox Inspirations, I am continuing at least for now these Special Inbox Inspirations on Sundays. I began these when the coronavirus pandemic began.