What is essential? The scriptures today call us to reflect upon whether the things which we desire really are essential. In the first reading the Hebrews are in the desert after escaping from Pharaoh's army. They are safe and, for the first time in generations, free! But once the going gets uncomfortable, they forget and yearn for those good old days of slavery back in Egypt. God provides manna, bread from heaven, as well as water and quail for them to eat but they soon start complaining. They lose sight of what was essential, of what God has done for them.

Jesus finds himself followed by a crowd who also has lost sight of what is essential. People had gotten fed and were looking for even grander signs. Jesus offers them what is essential and many of them are not interested. For those who really understood what Jesus was offering, many turned away because the cost was too much. Believing in Jesus demanded too much of them.

We have a choice. We can keep our focus on what is essential. We can be joyful in the midst of awful situations. We can remain happy when things are most inconvenient. We can relish every breath we have to take when we may not really be able to name a lot of reasons to go on breathing. We can love no matter how many times we have been hurt or betrayed.