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Sunday, August 5, 2012

Change

The Readings today speak of change, specifically "dew" changing into "hoarfrost" and "manna" into the "true bread" from heaven.  The Israelites were suffering in the desert and were "grumbling".  They feared starvation and wanted bread to eat.  They asked Moses to save them. 

We certainly want change too, especially during our times of struggle and suffering.  We in turn ask Christ to save us.  In order to experience true change we must "put away" our old selves as St. Paul says in the Second Reading and be "renewed in the spirit" of our minds.  This is only possible within the power of the Holy Spirit through prayer and Sacrament.

Sometimes we are our own worst enemies.  We may think or act a certain way that isn't necessarily in line with the teachings of Christ and His Church, as a result we suffer.  God doesn't want this.  He wants us to intimately experience the life of His Divine Son.  This is possible through the Prayer and Sacrament of the Mass. 

When Jesus says in the Gospel Reading, "I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me will never hunger", He was referencing the Eucharist.  

It is interesting to note that during the Catholic Mass the word "dewfall" is used in Eucharistic Prayer II, signifying the Holy Spirit permeating His people like the dew permeates the soil of the earth.  As the first Reading states, the dew changes into bread for the people to eat.  They thus receive earthly salvation from their hunger and suffering.  During the Mass the Holy Spirit (signified by dewfall) changes the bread and wine into the body and blood of Jesus (God) for us to eat and thus we receive eternal (heavenly) salvation.

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