Reflection for Sunday 1st August

Gratitude or grumbling?

In the First Reading from the Book of Exodus the Lord, through Moses, was leading the people from slavery to freedom. What did the people do? They grumbled. You would think that they would have been grateful that God was taking care of them. 

Today’s Gospel follows on from last week where Jesus fed the people by multiplying the loaves and fishes to the point where they had more than enough. In this week’s Gospel Jesus promises them that he can satisfy the deepest desires of the human heart. However instead of being grateful the people grumbled. They ask, ’What sign will give to show us that we should believe in you? What work will you do?’ In his conversation with them Jesus had pinpointed what had led to their grumbling. They had searched for him for the wrong reasons.

What about us? With all the gifts that God has given us - life, health, a home, a job, a church where we are nourished by the Word and the Eucharist, family, and friends, do we find ourselves waking up grateful in the morning? Or do we grumble? It all has to do with an attitude of gratitude, of seeing those things that God has given us and being grateful for them. When we are grateful, we see the “quail and the manna” that God provides for us each day. 

The mistake that the people made in both the First Reading and the Gospel was that they were focusing on immediate gratification. They had quickly forgotten what God had already done for them. When we do that our capacity for gratitude diminishes. 

The word Eucharist means thanksgiving, and this is a reminder that we come to Mass to give thanks to God for all the good things he has done for us. However, to do that we need hearts that remember. A heart that does not remember is not thankful and a heart that is not thankful is not joyful. It grumbles. What we magnify is what we are going to get.  Focusing on the good things brings joy and peace. 

This week’s readings tell us that if we want to cultivate an attitude of gratitude then we must get rid of all illusory desires and be prepared to undergo a spiritual revolution. We can do this when we accept Jesus’ invitation to believe in him and come to him. 

Fr. Alan