Ordinary Time - Week 19b
The Living Bread
(From Conversation with God, Fernandez Carvajal)In the First Reading of today's Mass we read that Elias the prophet, fleeing from Jezabel, went to Horeb, the holy mountain. During the long and difficult journey, he felt so tired he wished to die. Enough, Yahweh, he said. Take up my soul, for I am no better than my fathers. And lying down there, he fell asleep. But an angel of the Lord woke him and offered him bread saying, Rise up and eat, for you still have a long journey ahead Elias arose, ate and drank, and strengthened by the meal walked forty days and forty nights to the mountain of God What he could not do of his own strength, he could do with the meal that the Lord gave him when he was most distraught.
The holy mountain which was the prophet's destination is an image of heaven. The forty days of travel represents our journey through life, during which we too encounter temptations, difficulties and fatigue. At times we too may find ourselves distraught and without hope. As the Angel does, so does the Church invite us to nourish ourselves with the bread - in all ways unique - that is Christ himself, present in the Holy Eucharist. In him we will find the strength to reach heaven, in spite of our weakness.
Holy Communion was called the Viaticum during the early years of Christianity, drawing an analogy between this sacrament and the viaticum, or provisions of food and money, that Romans took with them on long journeys. Later, this term was reserved for the spiritual assistance - in particular, the Holy Eucharist - that the Church gives to her children during the final and definitive stage of their journey to eternal life. The first Christians had the custom of taking Communion to those imprisoned, especially when their martyrdom drew near. Saint Thomas teaches that this sacrament is called the Viaticum because it prefigures the joy of possessing God in our true home land, and because it makes it possible for us to reach that goal. It is our great help during our life, and especially near the end of the road when the attacks of the enemy may be all the more intense. This is the reason why the Church has always recommended that no Christian should die without it. From the very beginning, the need - and the obligation - to receive this sacrament was evident, even though one might already have received Communion on that day.
We may also recall today the obligation - at times grave - that we have to do everything possible so that no relative, friend or colleague of ours dies without the spiritual assistance that our Mother the Church provides for the final moments of our journey.
This is the best and most effective and perhaps the last possible manifestation of charity and affection towards those persons here on earth. The Lord rewards us with a deep joy when we fulfil this most agreeable though at times difficult duty.
Throughout our life, deeds should express our gratitude to our Lord for many things, but especially for having given us Holy Communion. Our gratitude will be shown in preparing to receive him better each day, and in receiving him fully aware that He gives us more than he gave Elias - all the strength we need to travel resolutely down the road of sanctity.