Sister Jane Marie Osterholt giving the reflection on Aug. 2.
Aug. 2, 2009
By Sister Jane Marie Osterholt, Sisters of Providence General Officer
Are you hungry or thirsty? The Scripture readings today invite us to ponder how we are nourished, physically and spiritually. In the first reading from Exodus, we hear of the fear and concern of the Israelites against Moses and Aaron that they were going to go hungry. God told Moses “I have heard the murmurings of the people of Israel; say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread; then you shall know that I am your God.’”
What kind of murmurings do we have about God caring for us? What is the deepest hunger within that needs to be satisfied? So often we simply focus on the food for the body, but how often do we recognize that God does provide food for our spirit, our inner being? We might not find food on the ground for us in the evening or bread in the morning, but God does feed us spiritually, emotionally, and many other ways. We need to “see with the heart,” the deepest part of our being, what is present before us, to nourish that part which hungers for God.
In the second reading from Paul to the Ephesians, we hear of that same theme of searching for God, of knowing who God is in our lives. John also reminds us in the Gospel: “… you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill … Do not labor for food which perishes, but for food with endures to eternal life, which I myself, will give to you…” The people of Jesus’ day were seekers for the truth as are we; they witnessed Jesus’ miracles but were searching for something deeper … a spiritual hunger, a spiritual thirst. Are not we each on that same journey? Jesus does tell us today: “I am the bread of life; those who come to me shall not hunger, and those who believe in me shall never thirst.”
Joining us today and willing to commit themselves on their journey are our newest PVMs: Jessie Light, Nancy Morales, Kate Sullivan and Arrianne Whittaker, who are committing themselves to a year of service. We also have Alice Liu and Kaitlin Ramsey who are committing themselves to a second year of service. Each of these young women is responding to God’s call today to be nourished and fed in a special year this coming year as a Providence Volunteer Minister, which is a lay ministry volunteer program.
Jessie, Nancy, Kate and Arrianne will live here at the Woods and minister in collaboration with us, the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, either at Saint Ann’s Clinic in Terre Haute or at the White Violet Center, here on campus. Alice will continue at Providence University in Taiwan and Kaitlin will minister at 8th Day Center for Justice in Chicago.
Through their partnership of ministry and service, each will give witness to the spirit of Providence through her works of love, mercy and justice.
We thank you, Jessie, Nancy, Kate, Arrianne, Alice, and Kaitlin for your public witness to God’s work in your life, to your YES to God’s call that we heard in today’s readings to be nourished and fed by God in the many facets of life.
May we each take time today, this week, to recognize God’s presence in our lives, in the deepest part of our being — our hearts, where we are fed and have our thirst quenched. By doing so, we reflect God’s Providence and join the people of Jesus’ time as we, too, proclaim “give us this bread always.”