Brief
outline of Exodus 16: The Israelites, having recently left Egypt, find
themselves in the wilderness of Sin (between Elim and Sinai) and begin to
grumble about the lack of food. God responds by providing quail in the evening
and manna in the morning, instructing them to gather only what they need for
each day, except on the sixth day when they are to gather twice as much to
prepare for the Sabbath. This miraculous provision continues for 40 years,
sustaining them throughout their journey in the wilderness.
Lessons
from St. Gregory of Nyssa (‘Life of Moses’):
The people
were famished as the provisions they brought Egypt had been depleted. An incredible
marvel then occurred- food descended from the heavens like dew. At dawn, this
dew transformed into sustenance for those who collected it. According to St.
Gregory, the spiritual meaning of receiving the heavenly food following the
exhaustion of supplies from Egypt represents the need of purifying oneself from
the old, sinful ways (or the “foreign life”) in order to receive divine
nourishment. The bread from heaven signifies the grace and sustenance provided
by God, which is freely given and not earned by human effort.
St. Gregory says
that this food was the same for everyone in appearance, but it tasted different
to each person, according to their spiritual inclination and desires. The Book
of Wisdom suggests the diverse taste of Manna according to the one eating it.
“…and without their toil You supplied them from heaven with bread ready to eat,
providing every pleasure and suited to every taste. For Your sustenance
manifested Your sweetness toward Your children; and the bread, ministering to
the desire of the one who took it..” (Wisdom 16: 20,21)
St. Gregory
sees the miracle of manna from heaven as foreshadowing the mystery of the
Blessed Virgin Mary. The bread that came from heaven was not intangible as an
intangible substance cannot quench hunger. Neither the bread was produced from
the ploughing or sowing of the earth. Just as the earth remain unchanged yet
was found filled with the divine food likewise the Blessed Virgin brought forth
her Son-the bread from heaven, while remaining virgin.
The bread that
came from heaven is Lord Jesus Christ [Ref: (1) St. John 6:32,33- “Then Jesus
said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread
from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread
of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” (2) St. John 6:50,51- “This is the
bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I
am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this
bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh,
which I shall give for the life of the world.”]
In a profound
and mystical manner, Lord Jesus Christ (the heavenly Bread) can manifest in
various forms of nourishment, such as bread, milk, meat, and greens, according
to the needs and spiritual maturity of the believer. St. Gregory elucidates St.
Paul’s concept, wherein St. Paul's message is tailored to different levels of spiritual
maturity: it serves as solid food for the more mature, greens for the weak, and
milk for young children.
“I fed you
with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for solid food. Even now you
are still not ready, for you are still fleshly” (1 Corinthians 3:2-3). To those
new to faith and virtuous living, St. Paul’s Gospel message was simplified,
much like infants being provided with milk. Milk represents basic, elementary
teachings of the Christian faith, suitable for new believers or spiritually
immature ones who are still influenced by their human desires rather than being
led by the Spirit.
We also read
in Hebrews 5: 12-14- “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you
need someone to teach you again the basic elements of the oracles of God. You
need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk, being still an
infant, is unskilled in the word of righteousness. But solid food is for
the mature, for those whose faculties have been trained by practice to
distinguish good from evil.”
On those who
are weak or struggling in their faith, St. Paul presents the idea of vegetables.
“Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables.” (Romans
14:2). St. Paul's emphasizes, to those struggling in faith, the importance of
not judging others because their personal convictions are different from one’s
own. [The commentary on Exodus 16 to be continued in tomorrow’s posting]
Questions for Personal Reflection:
1) How have I felt after partaking the Holy Qurbana? Have
I ever reflected on my spiritual preparation and openness to the experience
that could be affecting my ability to fully engage with the holy sacrament?
2) Am I taking time (during the Lent or otherwise) to revisit and embrace
the basic teachings of the Christian faith to strengthen my spiritual
foundation amidst my professional/family/academic demands?
In Christ,
Rincy
Ref: Gregory
of Nyssa, Saint. The Life of Moses. Translated by A.J. Malherbe and
E. Ferguson, HarperCollins, 2006, pp. 71-72. HarperCollins Spiritual Classics
series. (Original translation published by Paulist Press, 1978).
Disclaimer: The content presented here is a
paraphrased summary based on my reading and understanding of the book cited
above and is intended solely for educational and devotional purposes during
Lent. They are not intended to replace the original work or represent the views
of the author or publisher. Readers are encouraged to refer to the original
book for a comprehensive understanding.
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