Fed Up - a frequent word today!
Monday, 18th week in Ordinary Time
Num 11:4-15; Mt 14:13-21
The very first skimming through today's Word, sent my thought whirling to so many experiences of today. Boredom of the youngsters, hatred for the routine on the part of the middle agers, taking the little but taxing sacrifices of others by the elders- these are prevalent experiences pointed out by many today. An oft-used term for this experience is feeling or being fed up.
The first reading has an example of what we humanly do when we are "fed up" and the Gospel portrays the true Christ-ian response. Humanly speaking when we are fed up, we grumble. Moses was no different from the people - they grumbled among themselves but Moses grumbled to God. Finding fault with God and asking God for an explanation, sometimes I tell the youngsters, is nothing wrong. But it is justified only when a meaningful warm rapport precedes it. Moses had that disposition, the people did not - that is why the former was justified, the latter were not.
However, Jesus shows a qualitative difference in the way he would respond in a situation like this: Jesus was "fed up" too, when he knew what they did to John the Baptist. He knew that was how his life would go too. When he wanted to really grieve for his cousin and great prophet, he could not. People were there too, they were every where. Was Jesus "fed up"...no, he wasn't. He went to the extent of making sure the people were fed, not fed up!
What is important to ward off the feeling of being fed up, is to count your blessings, everyday, every little thing that comes to you! And with that mindset - you would reduce hearing: Fed Up - a frequent word today!