The answer to this question is found in the experience of the prophet Elijah in today’s reading. He is fed up with life. He witnesses disappointment and betrayal. He encounters a series of opposition. Above all, he experiences firsthand persecution of prophets by wicked Ahab and Jezebel. Elijah seems to come to the end of the rope as if God is no longer listening. He makes his feelings clear and rather prays for death, "This is enough, O LORD! Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers." He lay down and fell asleep under the broom tree.”
In the Old Testament, the broom tree is also known as the juniper tree, a flowering desert shrub. The broom tree captures moments of despair and divine encounter. Job (30:3-4) describes the broom tree as a place of desolation, ruin, and abandonment, “fleeing into the wilderness in former time desolate and waste.” Elijah’s circumstance brings him under the broom tree depressed and suicidal. In his mind, it is better to die than to live and suffer.
God’s appearance marks a turnaround in Elijah’s despairing situation. The angel is dispatched specifically to wake him up with food. Not just once, but twice. The angel brings food to the prophet with words of assurance and hope. Significant in this passage is the divine intervention. The angel brings food, yet Elijah is encouraged to brace for battle. The fact that Elijah despairs and complains does not mean that the journey is over. Rather, “strengthened by that food, he walked forty days and forty nights to the mountain of God, Horeb.” Elijah is once again brought into the perspective of God’s abiding presence. He is renewed for the mission with God’s living food. God provides at the most critical moments.
The Jews also grumble against Jesus in the gospel. However, their grumbling becomes an opportunity for Jesus to teach the significance of the bread of life. Jesus commands them, "Stop murmuring among yourselves.” Jesus brings the Jews to the realization of the true meaning of their relationship with God. The first step is to listen to the Father. The second is to come from Him. Coming to Jesus means embracing him as the bread of life, the bread the Father gives. Jesus is that living bread from heaven. To eat this bread is to seek constant renewal, not simply for our bodies, but importantly for our souls. To have Jesus is to have life.
Back to the question, “Is it proper to say to God, enough?” The answer is yes. Here are a few instances in the scripture. When the load becomes too heavy for Moses, he cries out, “If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin” (Num. 11:15). Job laments, “I am disgusted with living, so I’m going to talk about my complaint freely. I’ll speak out from the bitterness of my soul” (Job 10:1). Scripture speaks of Jesus’ pain this way, “About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”)
In difficult moments, people usually cry out for help. Physical, psychological, or emotional pains elicit cries of desperation with the hope of getting relief. Our immediate human response is to cry out. Most times, the help we seek is unavailable, or in most cases, that help only does too little to help. Faith looks to God’s help. The Psalm maintains, "Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth" (Ps. 124:8).
The message from today’s readings reminds us that God knows the right time to intervene. Ironically, physical food satisfies only physically. Spiritual food is what matters. Spiritual food renews our souls and restores our friendship with God. Jesus speaks about this food thus, “Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world" (Jn. 6:50-51).
Let’s approach the Blessed Eucharist with hope and thanksgiving. Let’s tell God how we feel, especially when things get rough. But do not stay down or hopeless. Just as God’s food prepared Elijah for the journey, the Eucharist prepares us for the journey of life. Jesus is saying to you right now, "Stop murmuring.” Come and eat the living bread from heaven.
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