XIX Sunday In Ordinary Time

Readings:
1 Kings 19:4-8
Ephesians 4:30—5:2
John 6:41-51

Thoughts For Your Consideration: by Hugo Esparza, CP

During one of the hardest nights of my work with taxi-drivers last year, I sat discouraged, hopeless and exhausted with my team of organizers. The group of primarily East-African and Middle-Eastern, Muslim, Cab-drivers had decided to go on strike a few days before. The dark, humid, Georgia night was as asphyxiating as the news that we received. The companies the drivers had struck decided to close all lines of communications with their ex-employees and their lawyer. That meant that almost one-hundred and twenty-five men were out of work indefinitely. What made things worst for us young, idealistic organizers in training was that we were going back home at the end of that week to finish up our summer training. It was hard to accept the facts of our defeat. There was nothing I could morally say to the men that I got to know and admire during my time with them. Our campaign was beaten and outsmarted by the deep-pockets of greedy businessmen and a biased city council committee. We were all demoralized by the situation. Neither prayer nor sleep helped me get over our defeat. Furthermore, since I hate to over-spiritualize bad situations, very soon my prayers became accusations and murmurs against God. I could not the see the good in the situation anywhere.

The scriptures for this Sunday can be applied to the challenging efforts to live out the social teachings of our faith in our contemporary world. Elijah’ s commitment to what he had been entrusted, to speak for what is right, got him into trouble. As King Ahab was persecuting him, Elijah seems to be overwhelmed, tired and discouraged so much so that death seems to him as the only solution. Both the first reading and the gospel, talk about divine “bread” that would feed us and nourish us in our journey. God’s faithfulness and presence is given to us in the form of bread. Furthermore, Jesus’ promise to be the “living bread”, which is “for the life of the world”, is the example for us to follow. We too are called to give ourselves to others, or as the letter to the Ephesians puts it, to be “imitators of God.” Furthermore, Jesus’ promise to feed us and thus give eternal life first goes through the Cross in order to show the extent of such commitment. Hence, the “living bread” that we are fed does not bring us to redemption unless it first brings us to the Cross.

Despite all of our efforts, the outcome of the campaign did not change. Some of the taxi-drivers went back to their old jobs under the same oppressive circumstances. Others were forced to migrate to other States and some settled for jobs that granted them less flexibility with their schedule. I cannot to this day imagine what these proud-men endured as they informed their families that their investment in the taxi industry had come to an end, or the pressure that bills and everyday expenses would put on them. I’m sure that these men understood the Prophet Elijah’s spirit as he prayed, overwhelmed, tired and discouraged, for his own death.

While redemption is not yet palpable for low-wage employees like them, the “living bread”, which I continue to share during our Eucharist, helped me to realize that I am not being called to be successful but that I am being called to be faithful. My response to God to give myself for others was what got me to commit to a secular organization that trained me for a whole summer on the art and science of community organizing in a Muslim Community at a moment in history when Muslims are looked upon as suspects. The bonds my team of organizers—Christian and Atheist—and I created among the workers was “living bread” for all. Some of the drivers were amazed that a group of young people like us could care enough about them that we would be willing to offer our hard work and time for their cause. And, some of us organizers were surprised by the audacity and joy that these men demonstrated even during the worst parts of the campaign. While our campaign did not change the oppressive situation for the drivers, the unity created among us participants, workers and organizers, as a sign of tolerance during a time of intolerance, became “living bread” for all of us.

Questions for Reflection in your Faith Sharing Group:
•    What social problems get you discouraged?
•    When do you want to walk away like Elijah?
•    What issues and situations seem to be overwhelming to you?
•    Are you ever discouraged by our political system and our political leaders?