Holy Trinity Icon via Wikimedia Commons
“Bread of Angels”
Scripture is
filled with stories of angelic visitations. In today’s Old Testament reading,
an angel visits Elijah just when he is about to give up and die, bringing
encouragement, rest, and nourishment. The food from heaven strengthens Elijah
so much that he not only continues his journey but is able to walk for forty
days and nights to reach the mountain of God, where Elijah will hear the Lord’s
own voice.
Angels are the
messengers of God, sent to bring Good News and to protect those who love and
serve the Lord. In today’s Psalm (34:6-9), we hear that when the afflicted man
calls out, the Lord saves him from distress, sending angels to surround him and
deliver him from his enemies. These heavenly visitors appear in the New
Testament as well, announcing the coming of the child Jesus to Mary and Joseph,
guiding and protecting the little family as Jesus grows to adulthood, and comforting
and strengthening Jesus throughout His earthly life, from the temptation in the
desert to His final passion in the Garden of Gethsemane.
In today’s
Gospel, however, the angels are not sent to bring God’s message to the people,
because Jesus Himself has come to bring the Good News to the world. He is the
Bread that gives eternal life, far greater than the manna given to their
fathers, greater than the bread that sustained Elijah for 40 days and nights.
The Lord has come down from heaven, fulfilling the promise, “They shall all be
taught by God.” Although Jesus could easily call down legions of angels to
demonstrate His infinite power, He prefers to speak with His own voice, gently
calling His people to believe and be saved.
Even now, we have
the protection of the angels watching over us, and message of the Gospel to
guide us. Even now, the Bread of Life sustains us and the voice of God can be
heard in the stillness. The world is filled with the goodness of the Lord, both
visible and invisible; the angelic hosts are encamped around us and the Lord of
glory is with us always, hidden in the humble bread from heaven, the Eucharist.
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