Scripture Scribbles: August 18, 2024

the Gospel

John 6:51-58

Jesus said to the crowds:
"I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
whoever eats this bread will live forever;
and the bread that I will give
is my flesh for the life of the world."

The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying,
"How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"
Jesus said to them,
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood,
you do not have life within you.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
has eternal life,
and I will raise him on the last day.
For my flesh is true food,
and my blood is true drink.
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
remains in me and I in him.
Just as the living Father sent me
and I have life because of the Father,
so also the one who feeds on me
will have life because of me.
This is the bread that came down from heaven.
Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died,
whoever eats this bread will live forever."

the scribble

Cravings satisfied. Binge eating. Organic food. You are what you eat. 

We are so familiar with these expressions because they pertain to eating, to fill our earthly bodies. Food has evolved so much over the years. While some still eat homecooked meals made with love and care by moms, grandmas, aunts, housekeepers, etc., many people nowadays also enjoy and patronize varieties of microwaveable and easy to cook food, and others like ready-to-eat healthy food or not-so-healthy food. 

For us, how important are eating and drinking? Do we feed ourselves just enough to sate our hunger and thirst, or do we overdo it?

It is, of course, our responsibility to value our health and be aware of what we consume. So…sure, we need food and drinks for our stomach. After all, we need these in order to live. Hence, the food industry will continue to grow and develop in the years to come as the industry responds to consumer needs and wants.

However, one thing that has never evolved or changed since time immemorial is the fact that there’s only one food that can satisfy and sustain us. It’s Jesus Christ himself. “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.” (John 6:54)

We need the body and blood of Christ in order to have eternal life. Food for our soul, for our salvation. Then this means we have to fill our spiritual hunger as well, doesn’t it? Thankful for the gift of the Holy Eucharist because we can receive Jesus Christ through it, whenever we are ready. But there are many other means to still feed our souls and prepare for God’s promise of eternal life. We just need to know what these are. 

How is our spiritual life? Are we spiritually starving, famished, right now? Then how do we satisfy this hunger? 

Dear God,
May we always crave for paradise, more than any other earthly cravings. Help us to long for your heavenly banquet and lead us to our spiritual fullness. Amen.

Today’s devotion was written by Edwina Yu