“If you are hungry or thirsty, come to me,”

22Apr
Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 
 -John 6:35


What a wonderful metaphor Jesus gives us for telling us how much God loves us! “If you are hungry or thirsty, come to me,” he tells us.


Throughout the Gospels God uses the things of our ordinary life to remind us of his love and care… things like bread and water. Sometimes we call these “miracles”.


Take Jesus’ first miracle in Cana: Water changed to wine for the blessing of love between two people! Later, with bread Jesus fed 5,000 hungry seekers as he was teaching them.  


Jesus used miracle healings of bodies and minds to manifest God’s intrinsic love and care. He healed that demon possessed man who lived among the non-living in a cemetery. He gave sight to the blind man. He forgave the sins of the paralyzed man who was lowered through the roof. Then He told the man to walk. The daughter of the synagogue leader wasn’t dead, only sleeping – “Give her something to eat!” Jesus said. Lazarus was dead. His sister told Jesus that he would be “stinking” after the three days it took for Jesus to arrive. “Lazarus come forth!” Jesus called out to his friend who then left his tomb. “Unbind him.” Get rid of those bandages used to hold his dead body in place, Jesus told the onlookers.


I do believe in miracles. I have sometimes experienced them in my own life. An infant child was placed in my arms to love and parent when my wife and I could not conceive. My doctor prescribed medication for me when I was depressed, then told me to see my therapist. When I thought that arthritis would cripple me for the rest of my life I was referred to a treatment program that coupled cognitive behavioral therapy with physical & occupational therapy. Now I go to the JCC “religiously” and know how to use exercise to keep myself happily busy and active. I can explain these three examples … up to a certain extent. Yet to me they are ultimately gifts of the miraculous in the love and newness that they brought into my life.


Yes. I do believe in miracles. I can’t explain them. I don’t have to. I do believe that God can make Mary pregnant with the Holy Spirit, then give birth to their Son. In the same way I can believe that the Son can do those marvelous things with bread and water, healings, and new life.


I also believe that Jesus can satisfy my hungering for love and newness. He can wake me from near-death depression, unbind me from stinky deadliness of my soul. Jesus can alleviate my thirst for the healing of my craziness, my blindness, the pain wracking my body. God’s gift of love for me. Yes. Jesus does satisfy my hunger and thirst.


Do you see Him satisfying yours?


Musical Reflection - Panis Angelicus by C. Franck - King's College Choir


Jesus, thank you for your many gifts of love, healing and fullness of life. Help me to see you and seek your love in all my hunger and thirst. Amen.

Healing

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