Daily Reflections- August 5, 2012

BREAD THAT GIVES LIFE

 

The readings of today open with a story of bitter complaints. They close with a story of contentment and satisfaction. Both stories have to do with food — from complaint to closure. The Israelites grumbled about lack of quality food. The disciples were promised food that lasts forever.

We never doubt the power of food to make us grow. The lack of it makes us shrivel at the root and die. And this is true both for material and spiritual growth.

There is this story of an old Indian man who bore two wolves atop his shoulders. One was black and evil who continually tempted him, and the other was white, who continually encouraged him to live up to his very best. When asked, “Which of these two has the greatest power over you?” the man replied without hesitation, “The one I feed.”

St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians speaks about a similar burden atop each one of us: the old self and the new self. The old self lives like the pagans do. The new self is the self renewed in Christ. I don’t know about you, but as for me, there is no doubt about how I often cater to the needs of the “old man” in me. I give in to my usual angry, mistrustful and lustful self, and forget to nurture and nourish the new man redeemed by the blood of Christ.

But just like the story of the Israelites of old, our complaints must lead to closure. And thankfully, God comes to put a definitive closure to our growlings, gruntings and grumblings. He comes to bring us food — food that lasts, food that brings life eternal, food that will make us hunger no more, complain no more, and cry no more.

This is what I know. I need this food. I need it to keep alive that “new self” given me by God in Baptism. I already have enough to feed the old self as it is, with my sins and selfishness galore. I need to partake of that promised food come down from heaven, the Bread that gives life. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: Which do you feed more — the evil or the good in you?

 

Lord Jesus, help me to surrender my old self and focus on nurturing my new life in You.