4th Sunday of Lent 18.3.12 When new is good
We often move from the old to the new. Like new televisions, cars, gadgets.
Traditional Catholics distrust new things when it comes to some of the changes we have seen.
But with covenants (epistle) it is definitely better to move from the old to the new.
The old covenant was mainly for Jews and was really only for this world - the land, their own nation etc;
But the new covenant gives us the infinite territory of heaven and for all eternity, and is meant for all nations.
God was always generous, always merciful, before the time of Christ; but all the more so now. The blood of Christ works better than the blood of animals.
We should see this as progress but we do not always see what is better.
The Gospel today describes the miracle of the loaves. When confronted with Our Lord’s miracles people often did not understand the depth and completeness of what was being offered them.
They could see only the material gain. Give us bread, land, victory over the Romans. They were not concerned with things like goodness, or whether they were charitable to their neighbours etc.
A lot of people have come to my front door since I have been a priest: asking for money to buy food, petrol, accommodation... it is reasonable to want those things.
But I have never had anyone come to ask how to be a better person; to ask for help with loving their neighbour more!
Those who would stop with the physical are stopping too soon, not understanding their own needs. They do not realize the hunger of their own hearts.
They do not see that they are failing in their most basic obligation: to love God with their whole hearts.
But everyone wants food.
Suppose we did have enough of everything, what then? We still have to work out what is the purpose of our lives. Is my life complete just because I have the biggest house and the biggest television on the market.
Do you know where your life is going, or where you are going when you die?
Many would not be able to answer that question clearly, confining themselves to purely material and physical aspects.
When the conversation turns spiritual they are likely to say: Now you are talking religion, and we all know that is just a matter of private opinion...
Just let me have a few things and enjoy myself a bit. When I die I will take my chances then.
They are not worried at all about what happens after death; only the next day, or next few years. They are stopping too soon in their understanding of Our Lord’s miracles and of what He is offering them.
Even He had difficulties getting through to people on this level. They were happy to stay with the old, and not worry about the new. Give me bread by all means, but don't start telling me about love or kindness etc. And anyway these things are ‘private’.
Where are we in all this? We are fully accepting of the new covenant. Taken to its fullest extent this means we should not worry about our living conditions provided we are in a state of grace.
Yet we do worry far more about our earthly status than the state of our souls, generally speaking.
We have lived in a world which largely ignores God so we buy into this mentality, and chase after money, and all the same things everyone else chases.
Never again. We take the bread Our Lord offers us, at both levels. We see that He provides food for us to eat and all our various physical needs. We thank Him for that. But we go one step further and see that He also offers us eternal life and the grace to live this life in union with His will. This is the extra step that so few take. We will take it, with the help of His grace.
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