One who does not understand hunger, does not understand anything

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season: Twenty Second Week : Saturday*

*Gospel : Lk 6:1-5*

*First Reading : 1 Cor 4:6b-15*

*Responsorial Psalm : Ps. 145:17-18, 19-20, 21*

*One who does not understand hunger, does not understand anything*

*1) The Issue of Hunger*

The Gospel of the day speaks about the concept of Hunger 

The Gospel starts with the issue of Hunger. The Hunger of the disciples. Later Jesus speaks about the hunger of King David and His companions 

Finally there is also an answer how they satisfied their hunger 

*2) The Seriousness of Hunger*

There is a way of eating the food. When some one eats in a different way, it simply shows the gravity of the hunger 

The disciples of Jesus eat in a peculiar way. As they were walking in the field they picked up some heads of grain, rubbed in their hands and ate because they could not control their hunger

King David took the bread which were meant only for priests and ate it, because they could not control their hunger 

This shows the gravity of the hunger 

*3) Jesus understands the hunger*

When people came to listen to the preaching he understood the hunger of the people and performed a miracle to feed the crowd 

Like wise there were also other incidents where Jesus feeds 4000 people to satisfy their hunger 

In today's Gospel he defends the attitude of his disciples which comes from the hunger 

Jesus understood the hunger of the human being in a perfect way 

*4) Pharisees didn't understand the Hunger*

First of all they didn't understand the gravity of human hunger

They failed to see the same hunger which they have in their life to see others 

Since hunger is a basic need of the human being, and if one is not able to understand the hunger what else a person can understand 

*5) Not understanding the Hunger*

When a person is not able to understand the hunger he can't understand other things in a better way 

Fail to understand the hunger also represents the following vices 

The arrogance

Pride

Indifference 

Mercilessness

Stubbornness

Lack of empathy 

*6) The deeper hunger*

From the physical hunger Jesus also highlights the another level of Hunger, that is spiritual hunger 

Only spiritual hunger will help us to search for spiritual things 

One who understands spiritual hunger, understands the importance of holiness, god experience and being in the presence of God

*7) My Hunger?*

Am I Hungry at all?

My hunger for what things? 

Material needs or for physical food? 

May I hungry for spiritual things like, love, humility, service, prayer, holiness, simplicity, generosity, sacrifice etc??

*Think about it*

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

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*