Scripture texts – 2 Kings 4:42-44; John 6:1-15.
Today I am writing about food. Food can be defined as any nutritious substance that all living things eat, drink, and absorb to maintain life and growth. Take note of the key function; to maintain life and growth.
For human beings (people) maintaining life and growth is in two dimensions: physical and spiritual.
Food is among the necessities of life. Food has three purposes.
- Food heals
First, food repairs or heals the body. On a physical level, Hippocrates, the father of medicine, said,
Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.
On a physical level, food can also lead to one’s doom. Take the example of Esau who was supposed to be the heir not only to the spiritual heritage of Israel but also to the financial benefits of being the son of Abraham. Esau lost all the above-mentioned privileges because he was hungry. He exchanged his birthright for a bowl of soup. Hunger can make you take permanent decisions over temporary circumstances. Never in your life should you allow your hunger and desire for food to cause you to make stupid decisions that you will live to regret.
On a spiritual level anytime we encounter Jesus, the Bread of Life, He heals us and gives us life eternal.
- The second purpose of food is social: it unites people
Studies show that if a family has dinner together – even once or twice a week – it reduces the risk of children engaging in destructive behaviours such as taking drugs, alcoholism, deviant sexual behaviours, etc. Likewise, on a spiritual level, the Eucharist and the celebration of Christian sacraments are supposed to unite us. That is why I cannot comprehend why Christians would go to Mass, to church, and all these Christian-based activities but still be disunited, fight, and tear down one another. Your attentive attendance at Mass can have a powerful effect. Let us allow Christ to transform us, to become what we consume at Mass – the Eucharist, so we can live in unity.
- Thirdly, food brings joy
I still remember a warm bowl of soup served to me in Benin. A moment of ecstasy after an all-night drive! The great philosopher, Thomas Aquinas, said,
No man can live without joy.
He does not mean we become pleasure seekers. If you have been hungry for an extended period and you are served with good food, it fills your heart with joy, that’s the kind of joy, even more, that Jesus is ready to give to you.
I conclude with words of today’s Psalm. My friends’ Franciscan monks use it for their grace before meals:
The eyes of all look hopefully to you. And you give them food in due season. You open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. – Psalm 145:15-16
May we always remember the profound power of food and embrace the spiritual nourishment that Jesus offers, bringing healing, unity, and joy into our lives. As we gather around our tables, let us also gather around His table, finding sustenance for both body and soul.
God help us all.
8 Comments
Augustine Dery
Lovely and beautiful revelations.
Augustine Dery
Glory to God for such a blessing
Kingsley
This is deep and revealing.
Cecilia Mensah Brown
The verse for the conclusion is rather Psalm 145:15-16
Adongo Eric
Very powerful, God bless man of God.
George Yorke Cobbinah
There is also the saying that “we are what we eat”. This places the healing function of food. The same food can also give you sickness or even kills you. We have to be mindful of what we eat, where we eat, when we eat and how we eat.
The only food that gives us both healing and eternal life is the holy eucharist (the body and blood of Christ)
Nana Olympio
I have a testimony of God healing both my husband and self after getting sick, when we ate some kontomire stew. But for His intervention, we both would have died; just by eating food!
Maame Ansaba
Thanks so much for leading us to Christ especially His Word. Thank you for uplifting my spirit. God bless and enlarge your ministry for His Greater Glory