Manna from Heaven

                           Manna From Heaven

         It is an expression that most of us are familiar with. Its origin alludes to the food (manna) that miraculously appeared to feed the Israelites on their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land (Exodus 16:15).

          When we were younger and under the tutelage of the good Sisters of Mercy, we never really knew what to make of this concept. Even as innocent as we were, we didn’t really imagine that loafs of pre-sliced wonder bread, still wrapped in cellophane, fell from the skies to feed the Israelites. It was just another mystery of the bible that went unexplained. Walking on water and rising from the dead were way up there in that category as well.

           Much later in life, I was listening to a NPR radio cultural broadcast about African tribal customs in language. The announcer noted that the word “Manna” was used in certain Bantu dialects of Southwest Africa. It denoted a paste of ground Locusts and goat’s milk, that could be cooked over a heated flat stone and produce a type of flat bread that nourished the tribes. It was also noted that some of these periodic locust clouds in the sky could weigh up to twenty tons. That would make for a lot of bread.

           I mentioned this idea in conversation with a few ordained priests who said “No, Manna is a spiritual concept.” “Okay” I thought. But, I don’t think you can spread peanut butter and jelly on a spiritual concept very easily. Since then, I have occasionally thought of the concept whenever I came across a literary reference that referred to a stroke of good luck as “Manna from Heaven.”

            Is its origin Bantu practicality or a biblical miracle? You decide. I am off to spread some Jiffy Peanut butter and strawberry jelly on the Bantu version.

                                             -30-

                                      (312 words)

                                Joseph Xavier Martin