Developing Your Taste Buds


“You give them something to eat.” (Luke 9:13)

If my wife and I let our children pick what they want to eat, they probably will choose unhealthful food that is high in calories from sugar or saturated fat, with little dietary fiber, protein, vitamins, minerals, or other important forms of nutritional value. They will choose junk food because it is readily available and it tastes good. But my wife, who enjoys cooking, prepares well-balanced meals and in the process, we find that our children’s taste and appreciation for different flavors change. As parents, we give our children healthy stuff to eat.

In today’s bible reading, we hear Jesus commanding His disciples to “give them (the crowd) something to eat” as a response to the disciples' suggestion of sending them away to buy food. This exchange takes place in the context of the miracle of feeding the five thousand.

Nurturing our soul of filling the emptiness inside is an important step in our spiritual journey. We are hungry, and if we are left to our devices we too may choose “junk food” to feed our souls. Jesus gives a clear commandment to the church to feed her (the church’s – the Church is always feminine, she is the Bride) children with real food that has nutritional value.

As a pastor, I internalize the words of Jesus by thinking that if we, the church, ask people around us: "what questions do you have about your faith? What do you want to know?" Chances are people will say: "Um... nothing". But when we introduce them to the riches and depths of our faith their interest will grow and they will desire to know more. The Holy mother church wants us to grow in our faith and for that reason, she feeds us with the word of God. 

I pray that our church grows more generous every day and feed the spiritual needs of her children in a way that fits their challenges and struggles.  

Yours,

Fr. Nareg

Read the Word of God. Today's readings are: Ephesians 6:1-9; Luke 9:10-17

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