1st Reading: Ex 16:2-4, 12-15
2nd Reading: Eph 4:17, 20-24
Gospel: Jn 6:24-35
If we had read the papers, or browsed the internet on the 20th July (which was just about 2 weeks ago), we would have surely come across this prominent news.
And along with this piece of news, is also the recalling of a very famous historical statement.
Now, I have recorded it for you. It goes like this: This is just one small step for man, but a giant leap for humankind.
Yes, the voice of Neil Armstrong, the American astronaut, the first man to step on the surface of the moon, on the 20th July 1969, a historical moment for him, and also for the world.
And 2 weeks ago, was the 40th anniversary of that historical moment, that historical landing on the moon.
Yes, it was a great moment for science and technology.
The 3-man space team landed on the moon, 2 of them walked on the moon, 1 of them circled round the moon in the spacecraft.
Yes, they reached the moon, but none of them ever wanted to stay on the moon.
So even with all that rocket science that enabled them to break free from the gravitational pull of the earth, they still wanted to come back to earth.
Actually, they had no choice; they had to come back to earth.
But let’s say, they had a choice, as in, the moon was like the earth, and they can stay there.
There is fresh air, clean waters, the sea teeming with fish, the land filled with fruit trees. Almost like the biblical Garden of Eden, unpolluted, but uninhabited.
Would they have stayed on there and lived on the moon? How about you? Would you want to go to the moon and stay there? Would I want to go to the moon and stay there?
Well, can consider. It’s a nice idea, being the 1st priest on the moon. Can even be the 1st pope of the moon.
But I think that if we considered all the options, all the opportunities, as well as all the challenges, I think we would still want to come back to earth.
Even though, we might be able to break free from the gravitational pull of the earth, something else will be pulling us back to earth.
I would call it the sentimental pull.
A classic example of this so-called sentimental pull, can be seen in the 1st reading, which was the book of Exodus.
Now we all know the Exodus story, how Moses led the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt, into freedom and towards the Promised Land.
But the strange thing was that although freed from the clutches of slavery in Egypt, the Israelites kept looking back at Egypt.
The sentimental pull was just too strong, especially when they faced the hunger and thirst of the desert.
Almost immediately, they became nostalgic about the past, and they dreamed about the pans of meat and eating bread till their hearts content when they were in Egypt.
And then they grumbled, they complained, and they began to say ridicules things like wishing to die as slaves in Egypt rather than be free and die in the desert.
Somehow in the hunger and thirst of the desert, even slavery looks good, compared to freedom in the desert, but no food.
Such is the powerful tempting illusion created by the sentimental nostalgic pull.
That’s why, it probably took one day for Israel to get out of Egypt, but it took 40 years to get Egypt out of Israel.
So if the Israelites were asked: Are you happy now that you are free? It won’t be surprising to hear them say ‘No, life in Egypt was better.’
And that’s also a question to ask ourselves : Are we happy with life, … now?
Or are we thinking that life in the past was better. Somehow it is the sentimental nostalgic good old days.
But the question remains. Are we happier now, or were we happier in the past?
This question can be put to the various situations of our lives.
For eg, are we happier in the new job? Or do we think we were happier in the old job.
Are we happier after marriage? Or do we think we were happier before marriage?
Are we happier now that we are older? Or do we think that we were happier when we were younger?
In the gospel, Jesus tells us not to work for food that cannot last, but to work for food that endures to eternal life, the food that Jesus is offering us in the Eucharist.
Indeed Jesus is the bread of life, He is the bread of fulfillment, He is the bread of joy and happiness.
Let’s face it, if we come for Mass, and we receive Jesus the bread of life, and then we are still not happy, then we will not find happiness anywhere else on earth.
No point going even to the moon to search for happiness, because as long as we are not happy on earth, even if we go to heaven, we might think it is hell.
The purpose of receiving Jesus the bread of life, is to open our eyes to life, and to see where are the areas of our lives that we can grow in happiness.
God made all things good, and He made man the best, because man is made in the image and likeness of God.
But we might become like the Israelites in the desert, grumbling and complaining about life.
But God still uses His beautiful creation to remind us of the beauty of our lives, and how to be happy.
Let me share with you some images of creation, images of happiness, so that we can see for ourselves, what we need to be, in order to be happy.
Be like the sun.
Arise early, and do not go to bed late.
Be like the moon.
Shine in the darkness, but submit to the greater light.
Be like the birds.
Eat, sing, drink, and fly free.
Be like the flowers,
Loving the sun, but faithful to your roots.
Be like the faithful dog,
but only to your Lord.
Be like the fruit.
Beautiful on the outside, and healthy on the inside.
Be like the day,
which arrives and leaves without boasting.
Be like the oasis.
Give your water to the thirsty.
Be like the firefly,
although small, it casts its own light.
Be like the water,
Good and transparent
Be like the river,
always moving forward
And above all things,
be like the heavens:
A home for God.
If any of these images caught your attention, then just act on it.
Let that image be your inspiration and motivation in your journey towards happiness.
It may be one small step, but it will also be a giant leap.