18th Sunday of Ordinary Time [B]


18TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME [B]


Imagine launching an under-fueled space mission. The people at NASA did just that back in November of 1973. The objective of the Mariner Ten mission was to explore the innermost planet of our solar system, Mercury. Carrying a sufficient fuel-load means that the mission will never clear the launchpad; too much weight will have been added. Therefore, the decision is made to launch with a reduced fuel-load. Another means of propulsion will be utilized when the probe passes within range of the planet Venus. A calculated angle of approach will place Mariner Ten within the gravity field of Venus. The pull, combined with the established momentum, creates a “sling-shot” effect. The probe has been given a “gravity boost” as it continues on to Mercury. You don’t have everything that you need as the mission gets started. Nevertheless, it is anticipated that help will be provided along the way. 


Something similar happens with the Israelites. They take provisions along as they depart the land of Egypt (Ex. 12:31-39). However, those provisions will not last indefinitely. At some point, help needs to materialize along the way. Otherwise, they will fall short of their destination, a place called The Promised Land. When the help does materialize, it will be referred to by a particular name: Manna (Ex. 16:15-31). Nourished with a bread derived from Heaven, they resume their journey, advancing ever closer to the Land of Milk and Honey. The Manna serves as a kind of “gravity-boost” for the migrating Israelites; help received along the way. 


We do well to look back upon the Exodus narrative. Still, Paul believes that we will do even better by looking ahead. The old has to be set aside for the sake of the new (Eph. 4:22-24). For example, Jesus has been revealed as the New Manna (John 6:27-35). This represents a source of good news for us. Why? Like the Israelites, we’re occupied with our own version of the Exodus. The path they traveled could be described as something geographical. Meanwhile, our own path transcends the limits of geography. The journey of life leads us to the great beyond: to a dimension that has been identified as The Heavenly Kingdom. 


Like Mariner Ten, we’re on our way. Like the Old Testament Israelites, we’re on our way. It’s all about being on your way somewhere, lacking what you will require for the completion of your journey. Help appears along the way for the Israelites. Mariner Ten benefits by receiving help along the way. For the purposes of our journey, we are being blessed with the New Manna, or rather the Eucharist. Through the Sacraments, the Kingdom of God is placed within reach. All we have to do is take advantage—take advantage of the help that is being made available. For the space program, this means using one planet’s gravity for the sake of reaching a more distant planet. For us, it means recognizing Jesus as the Bread sent down from Heaven. He sustains us and renews us so that we can forge ahead, one step at a time, making our way ever closer to that Ultimate Promised Land. 

 

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