17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today we begin to read from John 6...The Bread of Life Discourse. The scene is set. It echoes Moses, with the mountain, the manna, and the Passover. As I listened to the Gospel this morning I heard the bit about the grass and found myself wondering. It recalls psalm 23 but at first blush it seemed an extraneous detail.
He makes me lie down in green pastures...
I shall not want...
This God of Abundance draws our attention to what is lush and green and cool and comfortable. Lie down and remember. Remember that whenever clenched fists are relaxed to open there is abundance. Even leftovers! There is Passover, and Exodus, and liberation. The lad must have offered what he had to Andrew. His childlikeness was open to super-abundance. Jesus seems to imitate the boy's offering. The crowd is taken up and takes on this attitude of sharing.
I shall not want...what will never satisfy. There is never enough of what never satisfies. There is always plenty of that which facilitates life and joy and communion.
No comments:
Post a Comment