One thing that I enjoy about my job is traveling to many places and getting to try the food at local restaurants. I was spoiled growing up in Louisiana because it has some of the best food in the entire U.S. I’m always comparing the cuisines from other areas to Louisiana and they don’t usually compare to the food from my home state.
Our bodies need food and drink to survive and while we could eat whatever we want, we would be better off in the long run if we ate healthier foods. We could survive if we only ate junk food, but our bodies would not be happy and healthy and we would end up spending more money on health care or we might not live as long. Just as the body needs healthy food to thrive, the soul needs Jesus to do the same.
Jesus not only gave His body for our salvation, but He gives us His body in the sacrament of Eucharist. This sacrament allows us to be closer to Jesus than we will ever be in this life. Jesus said, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” The people thought He was crazy, but Jesus didn’t come back and say that He was only speaking metaphorically. He confirmed what He just said by saying, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day.” Jesus is the way, the truth, and, the life and when we partake in the Eucharistic feast, we are receiving life into our entire being. Jesus provides nourishment for our souls and gives us strength and direction.
In receiving Christ into our bodies, We are both physically and spiritually keeping Christ at our center. With Christ at our center, we can better navigate to Heaven through this crazy world. We often try to fill the hunger that our souls have with things other than Jesus. This is like eating junk food. It might feel good and be satisfying in the moment, but doing this will leave our souls in an unhealthy state and will not quench our hunger. Just as the food that I search for in other cities never tops the food that I grew up eating, so the Earthly food I sometimes try to feed my soul never compares to the food Jesus gives us.
Jesus knows what we need and He continually gives us Himself to nourish us and give us strength. We should first go to the sacrament of reconciliation to ensure our “plate” is clean and then receive Jesus in the sacrament of Eucharist. If we do this consistently, we will discover that we have an easier time resisting temptation and we will also notice that we are generally happier and less anxious. Receiving communion regularly will improve our relationship with Jesus will leave us completely satisfied.
