Gospel Reflections for August 4 2024: 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel for August 4 2024 – John 6:24-35

Gospel Reflections for August 4 2024

You are what you eat.

Nutritionists have been making that claim for some time. 

The food you eat every day for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (and unfortunately all those snacks too) become part of your body. If you eat well, you give yourself a better chance at good health. If not …your body will tell you in uncomfortable ways that only gets worse with time.

No food at all is a different problem. When the Israelites were wandering in the desert, God made food miraculously fall from Heaven for them. Yet, it was only just enough for each day. That is echoed in the Our Father, where we ask Give us this day …our daily bread.

Our Lord only offers grace for what you are facing right now. After all, it is only right now that you can make decisions and direct your life one way or another. The future has not happened yet, and the past is over. This moment now is precisely the time you need God’s grace within you, not yesterday or tomorrow …but right now.

This parallels the way your body metabolizes food, which is also directed at your immediate physical needs, and the energy you need right now. However, If food energy is not used, say by inactivity, it is stored as fat. How much of that do you want!? Our bodies were designed to actively use our food for some activity. 

Diets are usually about what kind of food you take in to yourself. Today’s Gospel offers a diet for your soul that is just the opposite. It is the kind of food …that you give away!

While your body is nourished by the foods that you take in, your soul becomes healthy by what you give to others. You nourish those around you …with your love. 

God designed you to use the food you take in today to energize you …precisely to give of yourself in love to those around you. 

There is no better work that you can do. The Eucharist is your daily bread that helps you do this with God’s blessings. Don’t let this day slip by without using His grace for some good event.

You are what you eat, both from the regular food you take in and love that you give out to those around you. That is a balanced meal that produces great physical and spiritual health!

God Bless!

Fr. Dave