What Do I Hunger For Most in Life?

 

Whatever constitutes our thirst or hunger governs our orientation and preference.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, 18th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B, August 4th, 2024
Texts: Exodus 16:2-4.12-15; Psalm 78:3-4,23-25,54; Ephesians 4:17.20-24; John 6:24-35 

Today’s message puts before us the question, “what is my strongest thirst?” or “what do I hunger for most in life?” Whatever constitutes our thirst or hunger governs our orientation and preference. Today’s first reading is a problem of thirst and hunger. The people of God lost faith in Him because of thirst for water and hunger for food. We read, “The whole congregation of the sons of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness”. 

Jesus Christ,  in today’s gospel reading, instructs thus: “Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal." In this way Jesus warns against having strongest thirst for water and hunger for food.

 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God

Our strongest thirst and hunger should be for God alone. We should be like King David who says, “My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and behold the face of God?” (Ps. 42:2). He also says, “O GOD, You are my God; early will I seek You; my soul thirst for You; my flesh longs for You in a dry and thirsty land where there is no water”  (Ps. 63:1). 

For us Christians, this God is as we know Him in Christ Jesus. Hence, Jesus Christ says, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent." King David also exhorts us to thirst for the House of the Lord. He puts it thus: “My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God”  (Ps. 84:2). It is in the House of God we encounter Him, hear His words and learn His laws and ways (Isaiah 2:3). 

We are to thirst and hunger for God

Jesus Christ also exhorts us to thirst and hunger for righteousness. In His words: “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled”  (Matt. 5:6). If we thirst and hunger for righteousness, we thirst and hunger for God. For St. Paul says, “He is our righteousness” (1 Cor. 1:30). The Wise says, “Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life and honour” (Prov. 21:21). 

There is a danger to faith in making food and water our highest hunger and thirst. Apart from loss of faith in God, we prefer slavery to sin and death in sin. This is clear as the people of God say, "Would that we had died by the hand of the  Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate bread to the full; for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger." 

Put off your old nature 

St. Paul, in today’s second reading, exhorts us never to prefer our old ways of life before we know Christ. He says, “This I affirm and testify in the  Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their minds.” He adds, “Put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” 

Prayer 

Draw near to your servants, O Lord, and answer their prayers with unceasing kindness, that, for those who glory in you as their Creator and guide, you may restore what you have created and keep safe what you have restored. Amen (Collect) 

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke