The Reality of Hunger and our response

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season: Fifteenth Week : Friday*

*Gospel : Mt 12:1-8*

*First Reading : Is 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8*

*The Reality of Hunger*

*1) The reaction towards Hunger*

In today's Gospel the word  hunger comes two times 

Both the times the hunger is referred to two different situation 

In the first situation the disciples were hungry and they began to eat the heads of grain

In second situation David and his companions were eating the bread which was reserved for priests in the temple

*2) Hunger can't be postponed*

There are many things in our life which we can postpone to some time 

But there are certain things which we can't postpone. One among them is the Hunger

Therefore the immediate reaction of the disciples of Jesus and David and his companions were, to eat something and satisfy the hunger 

*3) The varieties of Hunger in life*

Apart from the bodily hunger we suffer from many other varieties of hunger 

Spiritual hunger 

Psychological hunger

Emotional hunger

Mental hunger

Hunger for love 

Hunger for relationship

Hunger for companionship

Hunger for peace 

Hunger for happiness

Hunger for recognition

These are the various hunger we experience in our day today life 

*4) Need to attend the Hunger*

As we very well know that, our physical or bodily hunger can't be postponed, the same logic also applies to other areas as well 

One among them is Spiritual hunger. We can't postpone this hunger 

Attempts to postpone this hunger leads to a kind of vacuum in life 

Attempts to postpone this hunger leads to crisis in life, failure in life, destruction in life, meaninglessness in life, breaking of family, depression in life and all other calamities 

So we need satisfy the spiritual hunger as early as possible

*5) Catering the Spiritual Hunger*

There are many ways to cater the spiritual hunger

Personal prayer life 

Community prayer 

Praying of Rosary 

Sacramental adoration

Celebration of the Eucharist 

Faithful to the sacrament  of reconciliation 

Retreats 

Novenas 

Reading of the Bible 

Praying the Bible 

All these will satisfy our hunger 

*6) My Responsibility*

In satisfying the Spiritual hunger, I must take some serious steps 

Primarily it is my responsibility 

For a meaningful life, one must satisfy the spiritual hunger of life 

Unless one satisfies this hunger, all other things become useless

If one has nothing in life, but if he/she able to satisfy the spiritual hunger, he/she will be most satisfied person in life 

He/ she will find  a beautiful meaning for life 

So am I ready to cater the spiritual hunger? 

Or am I trying to postpone the spiritual hunger, giving room for  crisis in life? 

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*