“The whole Israelite community grumbled against Moses and by Aaron…Would that we had died at the Lord’s hand…we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread!”

The people of Israel complained against Moses the servant of God that they had no food to eat and would prefer their condition in Egypt. 

It appears that they have soon forgotten all the great miracles and wonders that God performed before their very eyes especially the separating of the red sea for them to pass through. Can this same God not provide food for them and yet they are complaining and losing faith in God?

Is there anything you are lacking in your life, money, food, job?

Are we like the people of Israel? God in his love and kindness went on to provide for them, “…in the morning you shall have your fill of bread, so that you may know that I, the Lord is your God.”

There are two vital lessons we must take away:

1. Do not forget the many past favors, blessings and miracles God has done in your life.

2. Always have faith in God, Trust in divine providence.

The theme of food re-echoes in the gospel of John chapter 6:24-35. Jesus had fed the people earlier, and they came looking for him. Jesus told them: “You are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. So, they were looking for Jesus because of food and Jesus challenged them to grow and not look for food that parishes. Jesus wants them to come to mature and authentic faith. In Moral Theology there is the key issue of intention in every action. Their intention of coming to Jesus was to come and have food. And yet the bible says, ‘Human beings shall not live by bread alone but every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ Mt 4:4, Dt 8:3. Jesus said to them, “work for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of man will give you.” Again, he said, “I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me will never hunger and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” Again, Jesus said, to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he has sent.” 

We need to look at the word believe more deeply: Jesus is saying, the one work God expects of us is to believe. Faith in Jesus means to accept the person of Jesus, his teaching and values or way if life, This, by the power of grace leads one into a deep and intimate relationship with Jesus and be able to declare with St, Paul, “I have been crucified with Christ and yet I am alive: yet it is no longer I, but Christ living in me” Gal 2:20.

To Believe or have faith in Jesus, renews and makes us able to love like Christ, to be obedient like Christ, to serve like Christ, to pray like Christ, to be merciful like Christ, to be holy like Christ. When we accept Jesus Christ the bread of life, he transforms our vision, values, world outlook and fills us with his divine life that no amount of earthly food can give us. When we open our hearts and welcome him who is the bread of life, he renews us. As St. Paul puts it in the second reading, “…to put away the old self of your former way of life, corrupted through deceitful desires, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new self, created in God’s way in righteousness and holiness of truth.”

Introduction from Fr. Stephen: 

Greetings to you in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. My name is Rev. Fr. Stephen Audu originally from Nigeria. I was ordained a priest of the Catholic Church on August 13, 1994 at St. Joseph Cathedral, Ilorin Kwara State, Nigeria. Ministry of Service: After my ordination, I served at St. James Parish, Sabo-Oke 1994 – 1995. I served as spiritual Director at the Seminary of St. Peter the Apostle, Eruku from 1995 – 2001. I served as the pastor of St. Theresa parish Jebba from 2003 -2005. I also served as the pastor St. Mary parish Asa Dam Rd from 2005 – 2006. I served as the Rector of St. Peter the Apostle, Eruku from 2006 – 2019. I served as the Director, Pastoral Department, MercyOne Medical Center, Des Moines, IA from 2021 – 2024. His Grace, Thomas Zinkula, the archbishop of Dubuque appointed me the pastor of Church of the Nativity, Dubuque on August 1, 2024. 

Educational background:

Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE 5.5 units): University of California

Medical Center Davis, Sacramento. 2021

STL., Licentiate in Systematic Theology, (Master): University of St. Mary

of the Lake, Mundelein-Illinois, USA. 2003

PGDE., Post Graduate Diploma in Education: University of Ilorin,

Nigeria. 1997.

B. Th., (Bachelor of Theology): Pontifical Urbanian University, Rome-

Italy. 1994

B. A., (Bachelor of Philosophy) University of Ibadan, Oyo-Nigeria. 1991

Books written:

1. The Power of Prayer

2. Marriage Before and After

Professional Association:

National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC), USA

Catholic Theological Association of Nigeria (CATHAN)

Hobbies:

Soccer/Football

Volleyball and Table Tennis.

I look forward to serving the Lord with you for the eternal glory of God and the Sanctification of all, the body of Christ. Please I solicit for your prayers and assuring you of my humble prayer.