*TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD* (1 Kings 19:4-8; Eph. 4:30-5:2; John 6:41-51).
By REV. FR. PAUL ANIGBORO
It's another beautiful week to praise God for all he has done. May the name of the Lord be blessed both now and forevermore. Amen. We continue our reflection on John chapter 6, Jesus, the bread of life. The psalmist invites us to taste and see that the Lord is good. We need good appetite to have a good taste. We also need to beg for sight like the blind Bartimaeus for us to see because not everyone who look can see.
What are we invited to taste and see? The Holy Eucharist. When we do it with right disposition, we will surely see that the Lord is good. However, there are certain things that stops us from having the right disposition towards having a good taste and a good sight. They are explained in today's readings. Firstly, our expectation is not the same with that of God. At times, we create a small bracket for ourselves and when our expectations are not met, we become frustrated. We need to be open. Elijah wanted food that will last for a day; the Israelites wanted daily bread but God had a better plan. He fed Elijah with enough food that can last him for 40 days and nights while he wanted to give the Israelites food that can lead them to eternal life. We need to be open to taste of God's goodness. God has better plans for you.
Secondly, to taste, we must be invited. We have heard of party crashers, people who bump into parties even without been invited. The Holy Eucharist is not the same. You can't just bump into it. If you bump into it without adequate preparation, you will get nothing out of it. Jesus said, "no one can come to me unless the father who sent me draws him..." (John 6:44). Have you been invited? Have you honoured the invitation or you still holding back due to sin?
Thirdly, there is difference between death outside Christ and death in Christ. Death outside Christ is damnation while death in Christ is life eternal. The bread of life gives us eternal life. What do you seek? Damnation or life eternal? Seek the true bread.
Fourthly, to taste and see is an invitation to become imitators of Christ. We must let go of all bitterness and anger, as St. Paul says in the second reading. We deceive ourselves to say we belong to Christ yet we find it difficult to forgive. It is sheer foolishness to say we belong to Christ yet we keep hatred and bitterness in our hearts. We are not transformed yet. Our life must become the bread we eat, a sacrifice acceptable to God.
Lord, feed us always with the bread that leads to eternal life and may we become transformed as we partake of the heavenly banquet. Amen.
Good morning and do have a restful Sunday. God loves you.
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