God Almighty, You never fail to surprise me: last night while praying, You sent me the late atheist (?) celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain to inspire me in my homily and prayer.
He said, “Food and sin are two words that have long been linked.”
It is true. You banished Adam and Eve from Paradise after they have eaten the forbidden fruit. Then, You sent us Your Son Jesus Christ to redeem us from sin by giving us His Body and Blood as our food and drink in this long journey back home to You in Paradise.
It is very amazing that our faith is always tested and strengthened through food. A non-believer in You like Bourdain, the widow of Zarephath became Your instrument to deliver Elijah from hunger and thirst. For a year amid a drought, the widow’s “jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry” as You have foretold through Elijah, keeping them alive and strong.
So often, we who are supposed to be religious, who are supposed to believe and trust in You are the ones who also doubt You and Your providence. We refuse to share our food along with money and other treasures because we are afraid of having too little of these gifts. Not only that. So many times we are selfish to share Your love and joy, mercy and forgiveness, kindness and warmth, including knowledge and guidance with those suffering and who are lost, those who have forgotten the real taste of life, pushing some of them to suicide.
Make us the salt of the earth, Lord, so that through our loving presence with others, we may become food to nourish their tired body and soul, to let them taste the goodness of life despite its many pains and sufferings, preserving them wholly until Jesus comes again. Amen. Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II,Parokya ni San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista, Gov. F. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria,Bulacan 3022.
Photo from Google.
