1 Kgs 19:4-8; Psalms 34; Ephesians 4:30-5:2; John 6:41-51
Feeding Body and Soul
My dear friends, today is the 19th Sunday of ordinary time. Jesus continues his discourse with the crowds about the living bread. He is not only offering us the Word of life but today he is giving his body as living bread. As the physical body needs food to live, grow, and perform vital activities, so do our souls to live and grow mature for eternal life. If we do so much to feed our bodies that will one day rot away, how much more are we supposed to feed our souls so that they would be strong enough to enter the Kingdom of God? How often do you feed your soul?
When we lack food for our bodies we grow weak and unable to continue with our day-to-day activities. Likewise, when we do not feed our souls, we grow weak and cannot live according to God’s will. Prophet Elijah in today’s first reading had reached a point of desperation. He wished to die because everyone was against him. However, God sent his angel to give him bread that reenergized him to walk again for forty days to reach his destination. Many are today desperately stuck in life without any progress because their souls are too weak. Some are because of arrogance, and others are because of ignorance. The psalmist gives us the medicine for both arrogance and ignorance: “Taste and see that the Lord is good”.
In the sacraments, Jesus gave us food for every situation and season of our lives so that we can keep moving. The sacraments are the visible signs of the invisible grace of God instituted by Christ himself so that they can bring grace or increase grace in our lives.
In the Sacrament of Baptism, we are born into God’s family by the remission of our sins, especially the sin of the fallen humanity called the original sin. In the Eucharist, we receive the body and blood of Christ as food for our lives as we journey towards heaven. In Confirmation, we receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit that strengthen us to become firm believers and heralds of God’s mission of salvation to the world. In Penance, we are healed and reconciled with God and neighbour. In the Holy Anointing, we receive strength to bear suffering in sickness and hope in God’s protection. In Holy Orders, we are chosen from among the people of God to be the bearers of Christ on earth and continue his mission of sanctifying our brothers and sisters. Finally, in Holy Matrimony, we partner with God in bearing and bringing up children for the world and for the kingdom of God.
Christ is the Sacrament of God the Father. He is the visible sign of the invisible God. “No one has seen the Father, only he who came from him”. He came to make known to us the ways of the kingdom of God so that we can if we choose to, inherit it. St. Paul is calling upon us to be imitators of God who never hold grudges, lose his temper, or raise his voice to anyone. Grudges leave our hearts twisted; no matter how we eat, we cannot be healthy. Losing temper is a sign of weakness of the spirit and raising one’s voice even to the subordinate is a sign of insecurity. Treat everyone including your subordinate with respect, and they will honour and respect you back. The baptized are the Sacraments of Christ; to make Christ known to the world. How do I present Christ to others?
Physical health is key to functioning properly. We must adhere to a balanced and nutritious diet to attain physical health. This has proven to be a challenge to many. The irony is that the rich have big stomachs because of ingesting junk food while the poor have big stomachs because of kwashiorkor (lack of nutrition). A healthy soul keeps the physical body balanced and focused. To attain a healthy soul, one must consume a proper diet. Another irony is that while the rich are too busy to feed their souls, the poor are busy feeding on “spiritual junk food”. Many do not know the taste of a real meal because they fed on junk food since they were born. Who will save both the rich and the poor?
Dear friends, a healthy soul is an impetus for healthy living. Let us not concentrate more on taking care of our bodies and forget to take care of our souls. Both need to be taken care of. To achieve this, a lot of discipline is required.
Have a blessed Sunday.
Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 