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Sections The Daily B.R.E.A.D. April 27, 2006 - Monday Meditation (Hungry for Truth, Life and Love?)
Sections The Daily B.R.E.A.D. April 27, 2006 - Monday Meditation (Hungry for Truth, Life and Love?)
| April 27, 2006 - Monday Meditation (Hungry for Truth, Life and Love?) |
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| Sections - The Daily B.R.E.A.D. | |||
| Written by Bobot Apit | |||
| Friday, 24 April 2009 05:40 | |||
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W hy do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy" (Isaiah 55:2)? There are two kinds of hunger – physical and spiritual. Only God can satisfy the hunger in our heart and soul – the hunger for truth, for life, and for love.
John 6:22-29 On the next day the people who remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. (23) However, boats from Tiber'i-as came near the place where they ate the bread after the Lord had given thanks. (24) So when the people saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Caper'na-um, seeking Jesus. (25) When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, "Rabbi, when did you come here?" (26) Jesus answered them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. (27) Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal." (28) Then they said to him, "What must we do, to be doing the works of God?" (29) Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."
Meditation by Don Schwager
W hat do you most hunger for – wealth, peace, health, love, the good life? Jesus addressed this issue with those who sought him after the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves. Where they simply hungry for things which satisfy the body or for that which satisfies the heart and soul? Jesus echoes the question posed by the prophet Isaiah: "Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy" (Isaiah 55:2)? There are two kinds of hunger – physical and spiritual. Only God can satisfy the hunger in our heart and soul – the hunger for truth, for life, and for love.
Jesus also spoke about the works of God and what we must do to be doing the works of God, namely to believe in God's Son whom he has sent into the world. Jesus offers a new relationship with God which issues in a new kind of life: A life of love and service, and the forgiveness of others which corresponds to God's mercy and kindness; a life of holiness and purity which corresponds to God's holiness; and a life of submission and trust which corresponds to the wisdom of God. This is the work which Jesus directs us to and enables us to perform in the power of the Holy Spirit. Do you hunger for the bread which comes down from heaven and thirst for the words of everlasting life?
"Lord Jesus, you alone can satisfy the deepest longing and hunger in our hearts. May I always hunger for the imperishable bread, that I may be satisfied in you alone as the True Bread of Heaven. Nourish and strengthen me that I may serve you with great joy, generosity, and zeal all the days of my life".
Supplementary Reading
Changing Besetting Habits-The $10 Challenge
"I hate being late," my friend lamented. "It has been a problem for me all my life." "Do you really want to change that?" I asked. "Yes, I do." "All right. Every time you are late to work or anywhere else where you have committed to be at a particular time you must give me $25." "No way!" my friend responded. "I would go broke! But I will do $10." "All right, $10 it is. It has to be a large enough amount of money for it to hurt your pocketbook." "Believe me, that will hurt," my friend said. About a month later my friend found great motivation to be on time to every place she had to be. In the first week, I got only $10 from my friend. The next week, $20. The third week, nothing. By the fifth week, my friend had changed a lifelong habit that had hindered her all her life. In order for my friend not to be resentful of me for the money she had to give, we put it in a jar to be given to some other Christian cause. This ensured my motive was only for her best interest. Some might be reading this now and say it is legalism. For my friend it was freedom. For the first time she had some means of changing a behavior that had caused her problems in relationships and her own work habits. Psychologists tell us that it takes 21 days to form a habit. So, if you need to change some habit, you need to be actively engaged in that new behavior at least 21 days. My friend needed help to change a habit she didn't like about herself. It took another individual to hold her accountable, and it took a potential loss of something to provide the added incentive. A successful businessman was experiencing a difficult marriage. When counseling the couple over dinner one night, a friend of mine noticed that the man often criticized his wife. After further counsel it was determined the man simply could not love his wife. My friend asked him if he truly wanted to see change in his marriage. When the man said he did, my friend said, "Every time you criticize your wife you must agree to give me $100." This man was well-off and needed substantial incentive to change his behavior. After the man rebelled and retorted, he agreed in front of his wife. A few weeks later a report came back that things were changing. This man did not want to write any checks to my friend. Although it was a competitive game to the man, it was also yielding some positive changes in his marriage. He began to acquire the habit of avoiding criticism of his wife, which was killing her spirit.
What are the habits that keep you from becoming all that God may want you to become? Do you desire change enough to be accountable in a way that it costs you something when you fail? Ask a friend to hold you accountable in an area that needs change. You will find new freedom as you conquer old besetting habits. GOD BLESS US ALL!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.
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The trial of Stephen unleashed a great persecution against the Church. In today’s reading, the story of his apostolate and his martyrdom is told (cf Acts 6:8-15). Stephen was filled with grace and power and began to work miracles and great signs among the people. The same means, almost the same words, as were used against Jesus were used against him. We have heard him say that Jesus the Nazarene is going to destroy this place and alter the traditions that Moses handed down to us.
Stephen proclaimed bravely his belief in the risen Jesus. And even if Our Lord does not ask us for our lives as he asked Stephen, he is an example to us of a coherent Christian life, lived naturally and openly, undeterred by false scandals or by what people might say. We have to expect that at times people will judge us in a twisted manner because they fail to understand the nature of a Christian way of acting or many of the loving demands of Christ’s doctrine. We would then have to imitate Our Lord and his faithful followers, even if it meant giving our life for him — acting with serenity, leading a Christian life with all its consequences. Doubtless it would be more comfortable to adapt ourselves to these pagan situations and lifestyles, but if we did we could not continue to be faithful disciples of Jesus. Such situations, in which we need firmness of character and fortitude in the faith can arise anywhere — in the university, at work, or in the place where we go on holiday with the family.
In their public activities Catholics should be inspired by the criteria and Gospel objectives lived and interpreted by the Church. Legitimate diversity of opinion in temporal matters should not detract from the necessary agreement of Catholics in defending and promoting values and projects of life derived from the morality of the Gospel (Spanish Episcopal Conference, Witnesses to the living God, 28 June 1985). Catholics must reject any fear of causing upset if, on account of living as faithful disciples of our Lord, their behaviour is adversely interpreted or clearly rejected. One who would hide his Christian personality in the midst of an environment of pagan customs would be giving in to human respect, and would do well to remember to hear those words of Jesus: He who denies me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven (Matt 10:32).
Do you know what is the first temptation the devil presents to someone who has begun to serve God better? asks the Curé d’Ars — It is human respect (St Jean Vianney – The Curé d’Ars, Homily on Temptations). What is our behaviour like when we are with our friends, at work, at a social gathering? Do we show our condition as sons and daughters of God with simplicity and daring?
With permission from Scepter UK. Short excerpt from IN CONVERSATION WITH GOD by Francis Fernandez. Available at SinagTala or Totus Bookstore 723-4326 or at www.totusbookstore.com ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
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