Sustenance

Go get that bread!

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear that phrase? Go get that bread! This line may have been borrowed, if not stolen, from a movie which referenced ‘money’ as the ‘bread’ that was to be 'gotten’. But somehow it expresses a much deeper meaning for us as Catholics. Go get that bread! is actually meant to encourage us to chase after God.  

We might, at first glance, consider the Mass and the Eucharist as that primary target; the gift of God himself as our spiritual food and sustenance. We could end the editorial here and simply say that what we all hunger for is really God. What really sustains us is God. Done. But we might experience hunger for other things as well. For example… 

We have a physical hunger; and anyone who has been around me when lamingtons are on offer knows that I border on gluttony. Lamingtons are my kryptonite!

We have a physiological / biological hunger; it seems like my body and my brain are on autopilot most of the time, and thank God for that because on my worst day I couldn’t chew gum, draw oxygen and make my heart beat at the same time. 

We have an emotional hunger; and if you’re in a friendship with me you would know that more often than not, I’m the one in need of love, emotional connection and security. 

And finally we have a spiritual hunger; and if you’re anything like me, you would likely interpret this hunger as an invitation to relax and watch NETFLIX after an exhausting day. Sometimes I don’t even watch anything… I just scroll! 

Here is the reality… lamingtons leave me with a sugar hangover. At times I need to take control of my biology; not only my thoughts but even my breathing. There is not a single human being that can fully satisfy my desire for love and security. And seeking rest in technology often leaves me more tired. So what actually sustains us? 

Go get that bread! is trying to express an idea from the Old Testament when the Israelites were wandering through the wilderness without food - doesn’t it feel like that sometimes?! What did God do? Everyday God would provide sustenance for his people in the form of mana - food (dew) that would appear on the ground in the morning for the Israelites to gather. But only as much as was needed for that day. Why? I believe it’s because God wanted to strongly underscore one important point: You can trust me. You can depend on me. I will perfectly provide for you. 

So the encouragement is this: let’s chase after God every single day. Every morning let us gather up the mana God has provided us through prayer. Let us learn how to trust with all that we are, not just give God parts. Let us fully depend on God for our every single need. God always provides, but we need to gather. It is a team effort. So… go get that bread!