ALL SAINTS MARGARET STREET

Evensong Easter IV

Fr Ivan Aquilina

It starts and ends shrouded in mystery. The word Manna is mentioned many times in the Bible. Tonight we read its first and its last mention in Scriptures.

If an object is defined by its name than we face a serious problem as the word manna derives from the Semitic question: “Man Hu?” which means “What is it?” That is the first time we encounter the word Manna. The last time is in the Revelation of St John the Divine, and there it is set in a mystic context where the winner is fed from the hidden manna.

Because there is nothing to learn from the definition let us see what we can learn from its use. If we look closely at the use of this curious substance there might be a thing or two that helps us in our spiritual life. What was the use of Manna?

The wondering people of God were hungry, so God provides them with what they need. They were to pick up enough manna for one person per day and on Friday they could gather two measures so that they can fulfil their Sabbath obligation of rest.

There is already a lot to learn here. The people had to depend on God’s providence. This implies complete trust in God. God will provide what is necessary for those who trust in him. We live in a multi layered and complicated way of life. It might be that tonight God is pointing us towards a moment of reflection to see what is really necessary and what is superfluous for our life journey. To think about the problem of buying what we do not need. It is also a moment in which we are called to examine our trust in God. Do we really trust in him or do we try to live on our own strength? We need to identify with the trust shown by the crucified Lord; he was nailed to the cross trusting in his father, that trust brought forth resurrection.

Eventually the people of Israel got tired of Manna; it was the same thing with the same taste day in day out. They started to take this gift for granted and got tired of it. What about us? Can we still identify God’s gifts to us? Do we take them and God for granted?
The manna in the desert was food for the journey. Jesus applied for himself the title and use of the Manna: “I am the living bread that comes down from heaven”. Jesus is God’s gift for us, our nourishment, and our lifeline. Are we taking Jesus for granted?

Jesus left us food for the journey, himself, in the Eucharist. Thou gavest them bread from heaven containing within itself all sweetness. We receive communion daily or weekly, are we loosing the taste as happened to the people of old? Do we take this Viaticum, this food for our journey, for granted?

This holy food, the Most Blessed Sacrament is Jesus himself. Whenever we receive we become what we receive, we become one with Jesus. Can those around us see that? If not, why?

Today, Good Shepherd Sunday, is the International Day of prayer for more vocations to the Sacred Priesthood. Without Priests there is no Eucharist. During benediction to night let us pray that God may give us holy priests.

In the Revelations of John the Divine, this heavenly food, this hidden manna is offered to the winner. The winner is the one who wins over Satan, the one who now is called to share the Divine life in its fullness. The hidden manna must necessarily mean this intimate sharing with the Risen Lord. Just as in our communion here on earth we share intimacy with him under the species of bread and wine, when we arrive on the shores of Jerusalem the Golden we will share in that eternal Divine Liturgy were one with Jesus our hidden manna we shall worship God for ever.

Shrouded in Mystery it is, but also fertile in insights it gives us for our spiritual life.

As we all look forward to share in the life of Jesus, the life imparting heavenly manna, in that glorious day of days, let us now rejoice as we enter more and more into the depths of the Eucharistic manna that contains within itself all sweetness, the sweetness of relying on God who provides for our life journey.