Manna and the Holy Eucharist

In this week’s gospel reading taking from St John chapter 6 there is a discussion between Jesus and some of his doubters. His detractors ask Jesus to provide a sign in the same manner that ‘manna’ was provided for the Israelites in the wilderness. Jesus responds that God has delivered the ‘manna’ to the people today also. Jesus is identifying himself as the manna.

The manna was a miraculous provision from God to the Israelites who were on their journey out of Egypt. We read about the manna in Exodus 16 and Numbers 11. For Orthodox Christians the manna was a symbol of the Holy Eucharist. As Jesus reveals in St John 6, the disciples of Jesus are to consume the ‘bread of life’ which is the true body of Christ. Considering the manna to be a symbol of the Holy Eucharist teaches us some important lessons on the Holy Eucharist.

First the Holy Eucharist is the source of our sustenance in our earthly journey. Just as the Israelites were sustained by the manna in the wilderness so too we are sustained by the Holy Qurbana. In the dismissal of the Holy Qurbana the priest reminds us that we have received the food for the journey from the atoning altar of our Lord. The strength we gain from the Holy Qurbana was also foreshadowed by the strength that Elijah received from the heavenly bread in 1 Kings 19. "So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God." (1 Kings 19:8)

Secondly the Eucharist spiritually nourishes us to forget the unhealthy food. It is important to note that as soon as the Israelites were in the wilderness they began to murmur against Moses and expressed disappointment in the lack of food. They longed for the food that they had while they were enslaved. However once God provided them with heavenly provision they were able to forget about the food of Egypt. Similarly a regular participation in the Holy Qurbana helps us to overcome our longing for the unhealthy diet of our past enslavement. In the preparatory prayer for the Holy Qurbana we pray “that by the food of thy holy body by passions may be quenched.”

Thirdly the Holy Eucharist is a hope of the heavenly manna. The true body and blood of our Lord that we receive in the earthly temple of God is a reminder of the heavenly and hidden manna that we will receive from the heavenly temple. In the book of Revelation we hear, “Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna.” (Revelation 2:17)

Finally the Holy Eucharist is a memorial of the salvation gifted by God. Let me first clarify that the Holy Qurbana is not simply a memorial and that it is truly the body and blood of Christ. Yet when we participate in the Holy Qurbana we are fulfilling the command of our Lord to “do this in remembrance of me.” We should especially note that the ‘manna’ was kept by the Israelites within the ark of the covenant as a memorial of their redemption from enslavement in Egypt.

The ‘manna’ showered down from above for the Israelites escaping from slavery in Egypt was a symbol of Christ himself. We experience Christ as the manna when we receive the Holy Qurbana.  

Christ and Jubilee Year

Jubilee & Christ

On the Sunday before Pentecost we read about the Jubilee year in Leviticus 25:8-13. The Jubilee Year is the 50^th year and is the conclusion of seven 7 year cycles. The word Jubilee has its etymological root in this festival year. The Hebrew word ‘Yobel’ which means trumpet was used for this year. The sound of the trumpet glared on the day of atonement signified the arrival of this august year. According to Leviticus 25, the Jubilee year was an occasion for liberty (v.10), return to one’s ancestral home (v.10), rest from labor (v.11) and period of holiness (v. 12). The reason for reading about the feast of 50^th year prior to the feast of the 50^th day is not accidental. The jubilee year points us towards Christ.

First the Jubilee year teaches us that Christ came to redeem. Jubilee year was a year of liberation for all who were bonded. In fact it was even redemption or freedom for the land. The Jubilee year reminded the Israelites that God was the ultimate owner of all.  According to St Luke, Jesus began his public ministry by proclaiming the arrival of the Jubilee year. Jesus stood in the synagogue at Nazareth and read from Isaiah and declared, ““The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19). Obviously the Jubliee period does not represent one calendar year but to the new age inaugurated by Christ.

Secondly the Jubliee year teaches us that Christ will bring us into a rest. The Jubilee year was a time of rest from labors. Our earthly life is filled with toils and we often find it difficult to find rest here. But for those who believe in Christ the life after death is a period of rest in Him. We read in the book of Revelation, “Then I heard a voice from heaven say, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Yes," says the Spirit, "they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them” (Revelation 14:13). This particular verse is alluded to in the funeral liturgy. As the coffin is about to be closed the face is covered and oil is poured over the earthly remains of the departed while the priest prays for the departed to “receive rest from labors”.

The Jubilee year spoken about in Leviticus 25 looks forward to the heavenly rest and liberation from bondage that Christ gifts to his disciples.