Hunger and Thirst

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to consider the consequences that may be associated with rejection of Jesus' message and our mission to introduce the world to the “Bread of Life”.

Hunger and Thirst

The reading from the Acts of the Apostles describes Stephen’s Martyrdom.

* [7:55] He…saw…Jesus standing at the right hand of God: Stephen affirms to the Sanhedrin that the prophecy Jesus made before them has been fulfilled (Mk 14:62).

* [7:57] Covered their ears: Stephen’s declaration, like that of Jesus, is a scandal to the court, which regards it as blasphemy. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB, n.d.)

Psalms 31 is a lament with a strong emphasis on trust.

* [Psalm 31] A lament (Ps 31:2–19) with a strong emphasis on trust (Ps 31:4, 6, 15–16), ending with an anticipatory thanksgiving (Ps 31:20–24). As is usual in laments, the affliction is couched in general terms. The psalmist feels overwhelmed by evil people but trusts in the “God of truth” (Ps 31:6).

* [31:6] Into your hands I commend my spirit: in Lk 23:46 Jesus breathes his last with this Psalm verse. Stephen in Acts 7:59 alludes to these words as he is attacked by enemies. The verse is used as an antiphon in the Divine Office at Compline, the last prayer of the day. (Psalms, PSALM 31 | USCCB, n.d.)

In the Gospel of John, the Bread of Life discourse continues.

* [6:31] Bread from heaven: cf. Ex 16:4, 15, 32–34 and the notes there; Ps 78:24. The manna, thought to have been hidden by Jeremiah (2 Mc 2:5–8), was expected to reappear miraculously at Passover, in the last days. (John, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB, n.d.)

Steve Scholer poses the question: Without the spiritual nourishment derived from coming to Jesus in prayer, will we be like those who lack food and clean water, and face dire consequences?

Dire consequences indeed, should be our response. We need to repeat to ourselves often, or at least daily, what Jesus said in today’s Gospel: I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.

As we go about our all too busy and all too messy lives, let us take time to consider that the bread of life we might take for granted is truly a gift, and one for which we should forever be thankful, a gift we can use to its fullest potential by coming to Jesus whenever we are in need. Just as those who are hungry and thirsty are searching for relief, we can reach out to God and be thankful for his watchful eye and attentive ear.

By strengthening our belief in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and enlisting their help through our prayers and petition, we, too, will never be hungry and never thirst … for with Jesus, we have the bread of life. (Scholer, 2025)

Don Schwager quotes “Trusting in the Lord,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.

"If you put your trust in money, you are paying futile regard to vain things; if you put your trust in high office or some exalted rank in human government, you are paying futile regard to vain things... When you put your trust in all these, either you expire and leave them all behind, or they will crumble while you are still alive, and what you trusted will have let you down... For my part, I do not put my trust in empty things as they do or pay futile regard to them; I have put my trust in the Lord." (excerpt from Exposition on the Psalms 31,12) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on John 6:30-35 comments that Jesus declares today: that he is the Bread of Life. That in him we will never hunger or thirst. That he comes to dwell within us through his Body and Blood. That in him, we receive all the grace that we need. That his presence is the greatest gift that we can receive. Yet if we rely only on our senses, we see only bread and wine. Our awareness of Jesus in the Eucharist can grow dull. That’s why Jesus offers countless ways to experience his presence more deeply.

For example, you might stay after Mass on Sunday to thank God for the gift of his Son whom you just received in Communion. You could attend daily Mass to receive Jesus more frequently. You might spend time in Eucharistic Adoration. Or you might read the sixth chapter of John’s Gospel and ponder the mystery of Jesus’ gift of his Body and Blood. Whatever you do, know that Jesus delights in encountering you!

Today, the Lord is inviting you to rediscover him as the Bread of Life. Let him fill you with the awe and wonder that St. Clare knew. Let him convince you that he can satisfy your deepest hunger!

“Jesus, I am amazed that you want to come to me through the humble but powerful gift of your own Body and Blood!” (Meditation on John 6:30-35, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on the “kangaroo court” that seized and killed Stephen as a consequence of his proclamation of Jesus' identity. Saul, the Hebrew form of the Greco-Roman name of Paul, is witness to Stephen's martyrdom. Friar Jude notes that the “Bread of Life” discourse builds on the Hebrew understanding of Wisdom in the person of Lady Wisdom in the Hebrew Testament who offered a meal of bread and wine.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, comments that Benedict of Nursia (480–587) is a central figure in the founding of Western monasticism. CAC affiliate faculty Carmen Acevedo Butcher describes how Benedict’s prayerful life in the desert became a chosen and holy exile from a world in crisis. We can learn much from Benedict. Fr. Richard asks: “During societal disorder and crushing need, how did he sustain both his own and communal peace and compassionate activity?

Richard Rohr’s allegorical adaptation of Archimedes’ law of the lever, in A Lever and a Place to Stand, can be applied to and can deepen our appreciation of Benedict, who repeatedly chose to live in and from the “fixed point” of a contemplative stance. In this calm place of daily ora [prayer]—Psalm-chanting and Scripture-steeping lectio divina—Benedict stood “steady, centered, poised, and rooted,” gaining “a slight distance from the world” even as his heart or fulcrum of engagement was “quite close to the world, … loving it, feeling its pains and its joys” as his own. In prayer, Benedict experienced a “detachment from the … useless distractions, and the daily delusions of the false self” that gave his fulcrum, set in the suffering of wrecked empire, the capacity to “move the world” through various “levers” of compassionate action, or labora [work]. [2] (Rohr, n.d.)

We contemplate the role of Jesus as the “bread of life” as we seek Wisdom to translate our spiritual life to action as disciples bringing life to our environment.

References

Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 7 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 6, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/7?51 

John, CHAPTER 6 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 6, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/6?30 

Meditation on John 6:30-35. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved May 6, 2025, from https://wau.org/meditations/2025/05/06/1268265/ 

Psalms, PSALM 31 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved May 6, 2025, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/31 

Rohr, R. (n.d.). A Prayerful Exile. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved May 6, 2025, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-prayerful-exile/ 

Scholer, S. (2025, May 6). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved May 6, 2025, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/050625.html

Schwager, D. (n.d.). I Am the Bread of Life. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved May 6, 2025, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2025&date=may6 

Guidance Protection and Persistence

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us to be grateful for the Presence of God on our journey, even as that experience reaffirms our persistence in prayer, contemplation, and action.

Signs of Guidance Protection and Persistence

The reading from the Book of Wisdom reaffirms that God guides and protects His people.

* [18:14–16] These verses attribute to the personified “word” the actions of the Lord mentioned in Ex 12:13–17 (note the role of the “destroyer” in Ex 12:23 and compare Wis 18:22, 25).

* [19:6] The cooperation of creation in Israel’s deliverance (vv. 7–12) under the direction of the Lord is a favorite theme; cf. 16:24–25. (Wisdom, CHAPTER 18 and 19, n.d.)

Psalm 105 praises God’s Faithfulness to Israel.

* [Psalm 105] A hymn to God who promised the land of Canaan to the holy people, cf. Ps 78; 106; 136. Israel is invited to praise and seek the presence of God (Ps 105:1–6), who is faithful to the promise of land to the ancestors (Ps 105:7–11). In every phase of the national story—the ancestors in the land of Canaan (Ps 105:12–15), Joseph in Egypt (Ps 105:16–22), Israel in Egypt (Ps 105:23–38), Israel in the desert on the way to Canaan (Ps 105:39–45)—God remained faithful, reiterating the promise of the land to successive servants. (Psalms, PSALM 105, n.d.)

The Gospel of Luke is the Parable of the Widow and the Unjust Judge.

* [18:1–14] The particularly Lucan material in the travel narrative concludes with two parables on prayer. The first (Lk 18:1–8) teaches the disciples the need of persistent prayer so that they not fall victims to apostasy (Lk 18:8).

* [18:5] Strike me: the Greek verb translated as strike means “to strike under the eye” and suggests the extreme situation to which the persistence of the widow might lead. It may, however, be used here in the much weaker sense of “to wear one out.” (Luke, CHAPTER 18, n.d.)

Cindy Costanzo comments that Jesus assures us our prayers will be answered. Jesus asks us to believe, to pray for our needs and the needs of others, to not grow weary and to have faith.

I am blessed as I look back on the last 45 years of prayers, the decisions made in unison with Jesus’ guidance went well while those decisions when I was individualistic, dependent on myself, acting only under my own authority did not go so well. Today I pray to always stay aware of Jesus' presence and Jesus’ spirit. (Costanzo, 2023)

Don Schwager quotes “Persistent prayer transforms iniquity and wickedness into mercy, “by Ephrem the Syrian (306-373 AD).

"How was that unjust judge immoral and wicked? How was the upright judge gracious and just? The first in his iniquity was not willing to vindicate the widow, and in his wickedness, he was not willing to put her mind at rest. The justice of God knows how to vindicate, and his grace discerns how to give life. The iniquity of this wicked judge was contrary to the justice of God, and the wickedness of this rebel was in opposition to the grace of the gentle One. His wickedness therefore was stubbornness, for it dared to go against the fear of God. His boldness was stubborn, for it refused the lowly person."

"These two were stubborn, but persistent prayer was even more stubborn. The persistence of the widow humiliated both the iniquity that was rebelling against God and the boldness that was behaving arrogantly towards human beings. She subjected them to her will, so that they might provide her with a vindication over her adversary. Persistence transformed these two bitter branches, and they bore sweet fruit that was against their nature. The iniquity of the judge brought about a righteous judgment and a just retribution for the falsely accused woman. His wickedness gave peace to the afflicted one, although iniquity does not know how to judge, and wickedness does not know how to give refreshment. Persistence forced these two evil and bitter branches to give good fruit against their nature. If we persist in prayer, we should be even more able to prevail on the grace and justice of God to give us fruit that agrees with their nature. Let justice vindicate us, and let grace refresh us. Accordingly, the fruit of justice is the just reward of the oppressed, while the giving of refreshment to the afflicted is the fruit of grace." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON TATIAN'S DIATESSARON 16.16.6) (Schwager, n.d.)

The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 18:1-8 comments that we can grow weary when we pray for long periods of time and fail to see any change in our situation. We might even think that God is distant or indifferent to our concerns. Or maybe we start to think that he has more important people and issues to deal with than ours!

So if you are feeling weary, let this widow in today’s parable be your inspiration to persevere in prayer. Whatever you’re struggling with, believe that God hears you every time you turn to him. And whether or not you receive the answer you’re looking for, you can trust that he is doing a work of transformation in your heart that will last into eternity.

“Lord, I know that you always hear my prayers. Help me to pray with faith in your goodness and care for me.” (Meditation on Luke 18:1-8, n.d.)

Friar Jude Winkler comments on Lady Wisdom at the Exodus and how the Israelites would not have survived without her intervention. The New Testament presents preexisting Jesus as Wisdom Incarnate. Friar Jude comments on the message of the Gospel to have chutzpah in our prayer even as we prepare to accept the possible answers of “No”, “Wait a bit”,  or “ in God’s time” to our prayer.

Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, shares the thoughts of Hospice worker and psychotherapist Kathleen Dowling Singh (1946–2017), who taught how her spiritual practice of offering loving-kindness to herself and others deepened in the second half of her life.

I remember the first few times I sat to do metta practice and found powerful resistance in my mind. Imagine that—resistance to offering myself happiness and wellness and peace and ease. The resistance was the belief in my unworthiness, my conviction that I didn’t yet deserve to be happy or hadn’t yet “earned” being peaceful. It was both sad and stunning to become aware of the resistance of all those deep, damaging, draining beliefs.

My prayer: “May this space I call me be happy, well, safe, peaceful, and at ease.” There is a deeper place—closer to essential nature, less filled with ego’s thoughts—that holds the intentions and wishes. It is grace. (Rohr, 2023)

As we attend to the guidance of the Spirit we experience Divine support as the fruit of our persistence in prayer and faith.

References

Costanzo, C. (2023, November 18). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved November 18, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/111823.html 

Luke, CHAPTER 18. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved November 18, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/18?1 

Meditation on Luke 18:1-8. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved November 18, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/11/18/832356/ 

Psalms, PSALM 105. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved November 18, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/105?2 

Rohr, R. (2023, November 18). Falling Upward: The Second Half of Life: Weekly Summary. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved November 18, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/falling-upward-the-second-half-of-life-weekly-summary/ 

Schwager, D. (n.d.). Always Pray and Do Not Lose Heart. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved November 18, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=nov18 

Wisdom, CHAPTER 19. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved November 18, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/wisdom/19