The gospel describes the story of a faithful and prudent manager whom his master has put in charge of his slaves, to give them their allowance of food at the proper time (Lk 12:42). The master will appreciate the faithful servant who executes his given tasks and wait for the master’s return, says the Lord. ‘Blessed is the servant whom his master will find at work when he arrives’ (Lk 12:43). Trustworthiness is the most important trait required from a servant. “It is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy’ (1 Cor 4:2)
Our Lord ascended into heaven only after appointing faithful stewards to give those who reside in his house their due allowance of food at the proper time. And surely he will come again. ‘Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes’ (Lk 12:37).
What kind of food our Lord has prepared for us? It is the same food that he ate here on earth. ‘I have food to eat that you do not know about’ (Jn 4:32). Jesus explained to his disciples that his food was nothing but doing the will of the Father and to complete the Father’s work (Jn 4:34). The will of God is revealed through the Word and the work that God expects from us is also spelled out in the Scripture. In other words the Word is our food.
‘He said to me, O mortal, eat what is offered to you; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel’ (Eze 3:1). It was with this introduction that God’s word came to Ezekiel. We see a repetition of this in the book of Revelation also. ‘So I went to the angel and told him to give me the little scroll; and he said to me. “Take it, and eat; it will be bitter to your stomach, but sweet as honey in your mouth (Rev 10:9). Yes, God’s word is as sweet as honey and Ezekiel too testified it. ‘Then I ate it; and in my mouth it was as sweet as honey (Eze 3:3). For Jeremiah, eating the Word was sheer delight to his heart. ‘Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart’ (Jer 15:16). It is not surprising then that manna, the bread from heaven also tasted like wafers made with honey (Ex 16:31).
When Jesus came to this world, he promised, and later gave us, a bread loftier than manna. ‘I am the bread of life……..This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die (Jn 6: 48-50). Since it was a bit difficult to digest, Jesus explained it further saying; ‘for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them’ (Jn 6: 55-56). To keep his word that he will be with us always, to the end of the age (Mt 28:20) he instituted, and transformed himself into, the Holy Eucharist.
The Church has instructed her priests to celebrate the ministry of word and the ministry of bread together in the Holy Mass, for the reason that these two together form the food for our souls and that they should go together. Jesus has appointed servants whom he found faithful to continue this ministry until he comes again.
This mission is so important that any laxity on the par of those who are entrusted with it will attract severe punishment from God. ‘That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating’ (Lk 12:47).
Let us pray for our priests who are commissioned to serve the Lord’s people with their most essential food. May no forces of darkness distract them from their first and foremost duty of celebrating the Holy Mass. They need our prayers. May the merciful God grant them the grace not to indulge in worldly matters, but to stay alert for the return of the Lord.
