A hierarchy of needs

Psychologists have proposed that human beings satisfy their needs according to a priority which usually puts survival as our first concern. The summary today by Jesus in the passage from the Gospel of John in the Roman Catholic Lectionary of the reasons for the people following Him after He fed the five thousand are about having all they wanted to eat and drink. The text from  Exodus describes the attention of God to the survival needs of the Israelites which was met with abundant manna and meat. The motive attributed to God for this graciousness was to return the  attention of the people of the Covenant to God. Jesus proclaims that He is the bread of life. Our most basic need is to be aware of our relationship with our Creator and Source of Life. This renewed Life, modeled on Jesus, and aware of the lusts and corruption to which we are susceptible is described in the letter to the Ephesians as the path to righteousness and holiness. In the relationship with God we are able to hear how God delights in us and provides all we need to know who we are in the eyes of our Creator and how to seek wholeness in our journey with Him. Thus our basic need is satisfied.