What does it mean to be full?

Have you ever been hungry? Indeed, everyone knows this unpleasant feeling. Although we cannot speak of hunger and starvation in the true sense of the word because our tables are complete, we can speak boldly of spiritual longing. We need to get rid of this spiritual hunger as well.

Let us be encouraged by the words and deeds of Jesus. The Gospel of the miraculous bread multiplication provokes various reflections in us. First of all, it affirms the Lord Jesus’s power. After this act of Jesus, they could rightly exclaim: “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.” (Jn 6:14). But at the same time, this miracle forces the apostles to reflect. The Lord Jesus did it not only to feed a hungry crowd but also to prepare the apostles for the difficulties that await them in their lives as followers and spreaders of the teachings of Jesus. When problems, troubles, and hardships would come in their lives, they would have to suffer for him, make sacrifices for him, and remember that Jesus is both Prophet and Messiah, who is mighty in word and deed. And this will have to strengthen them in their faith.

Above all, this miracle has a profound theological significance, where the multiplication of the bread becomes a foreshadowing – a symbol of the other bread of which the Lord Jesus speaks later in the Gospel of St. John: “Whoever eats this bread will live forever.” (Jn 6:58).

The Lord Jesus points to the close relationship between the ordinary bread and His Sacred Body. We must remember that it was tough for the apostles and those who witnessed these events to understand what Jesus was explaining to them.
This event took place shortly before the feast of the Passover, which for the Jews was a remembrance of the supper before the exodus from Egypt, which was a symbol of man’s union with God. It is essential to realize what we are thereby receiving from God. The apostles did not understand this. It could not be understood or explained by human reason, and a higher power must intervene here – the power of God. And God acts. It’s strange. When He left Egypt, He fed the multitudes in the wilderness with manna. Everybody had enough. Now they have collected twelve baskets of crumbs. Notice that Jesus commands them to gather the crumbs. He also considers these as bread and will not allow them to be destroyed. The number of those present should also be noted. There were about five thousand men alone. Let us bring this event into our spiritual life. Even today, Jesus wants to manifest His power. How often has He fed us with His word, making us feel so happy that we wanted to say: Stand a moment, how beautiful you are!

We have witnessed beautiful celebrations, whether it was a first communion, a confirmation, a beautiful sermon, or a pilgrimage. We felt that Jesus does not feed us with perishable bread but spiritual bread. We felt happier, even physically healthier. Jesus wanted to prepare us as his apostles for the moment when difficulties come so that when we remember him, we can give ourselves strength, courage, the will to struggle with problems, etc. But even in the crowd in the wilderness, some took a drink, listened to the Lord Jesus, or a kind of vegetation and went away. …and let’s not be surprised that something similar is happening today.
If Jesus did miracles all the time, do you think they would believe? No. Faith gives us enough matter to be fed and strengthened by Christ constantly. Who keeps us from frequent access to the sacraments? Who is forbidden even to go to Mass more often? No one. This is just our excuse: the Church does not command it; it is enough to go to confession once a year, to Mass once a week.
Behold, in one thing, on the one hand, a terrible minimum and, on the other hand, often exaggerated demands. A difficulty comes, and they want everything from God for one Mass, even for one O t h e n an s e. And when they do not, there is no end to the insults to God, the Church, and those who do their duty. It is like someone who eats only once a week, would like to eat all the time, but… Proverbs says: “He who does not work, let him not eat.” Even St. Paul the Apostle tells the exact words to the first Christians. And it is true for us today. Whoever does not strive, does not work on himself, does not strengthen himself with the Body of Christ, what does he want?

The Lord Jesus also said these words: “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take possession of it.” (Mt. 11:12). It would be an exaggerated comfort or exploitation if someone wanted to be served all the time, even in bed.
We see something similar in spiritual satiation. Some want to be content with listening to Mass on the radio. Such a Mass does not pay. One who listens to Mass from the radio or watches it on television and is healthy, and can go to Mass in church, does not satisfy the Church’s command: On Sundays and the commanded feast to attend the entire Holy Mass. It should also be noted that because it happens, and it is always the same case that they are regularly the last to arrive at Holy Mass and the first to leave. Yes, health reasons, but what about other reasons? It is at Mass that one can be most strengthened, and therefore Mass also requires preparation, concentration, and the gathering of one’s thoughts. It should not be that someone regularly arrives late and still disturbs others when they arrange to sit down or even go up to the altar.

One confrère related that he was getting out of control, and when there was too much going on, he interrupted Mass and asked them to come on time. The lady he was addressing responded by telling him to be glad he was going to church! Can a person be content and empowered when he does not show even a minimum of extra sacrifice? Surely, we all want to be satisfied physically and mentally, so let us consider one another. Even if that happens, stay back under the choir.

For us, perhaps only rarely does the doctor state malnutrition. But more and more, the priest is finding this in many faithful. Malnutrition. Often just a hasty prayer O t h e n – I’m in a hurry to catch the bus. Every Friday is an excuse – they cook meat; what am I to starve! Don’t we know that an act of invention can be performed? And the deed takes less time than the actual eating of the meat. The excuse – however, I confess – also only leads to malnutrition. A person who does not have a regular diet and enough vitamins is irresistible and gets sick faster, similarly in the spiritual realm. Constantly “I don’t have time” is no longer modern. After all, we have time for other things! The Lord Jesus said: “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God!” (Mt. 4:4).