Look, Son! A Sacrament!

John 6:27

Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal.

Everybody has seen dogs on walks with their masters.  The dog is exuberant but not too bright.  He runs in circles around the master.  Suddenly, the master looks at something he knows the dog would want or need, such as a stick to chase.  So the master calls the dog over, points, and says, “Look Rex!  A stick!”  The dog sniffs the master’s finger.  We are like that with God.  Jesus multiplies the loaves and fishes and his audience sees in the miracle only a lot of bread and fish.  They do not see what the bread and fish point to: Jesus, who is the Bread of Life.  In the same way, God pours out abundance on us but we often fail to see the Abundant One who is signified by the abundance.  Today, let’s take some time not merely to look at the signs God has scattered all around us, but to read and follow them where they point.

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Mark P. Shea is a popular Catholic writer and speaker. The author of numerous books, his most recent work is The Work of Mercy (Servant) and The Heart of Catholic Prayer (Our Sunday Visitor). Mark contributes numerous articles to many magazines, including his popular column “Connecting the Dots” for the National Catholic Register. Mark is known nationally for his one minute “Words of Encouragement” on Catholic radio. He also maintains the Catholic and Enjoying It blog and regularly blogs for National Catholic Register. He lives in Washington state with his wife, Janet, and their four sons.

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