THE CONTEMPORARY PERSON IS SUFFERING FROM SPIRITUAL HUNGER AND LACK OF SPIRITUAL NOURISHMENT

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior.

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

The Contemporary person is Suffering from Spiritual hunger
and Lack of Spiritual Nourishment.

"And JESUS said to them, "I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE, HE
WHO COMES TO ME SHALL NEVER HUNGER, AND HE WHO
BELIEVES IN ME SHALL NEVER THIRST" [John 6:35].

"And when He had given thanks, He broke it and said,
‘TAKE EAT, THIS IS MY BODY WHICH IS BROKEN FOR
YOU, DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME."
In the same manner He also took the cup after supper,
saying, ‘THIS CUP IS THE NEW COVENANT IN MY BLOOD.
THIS DO, AS OFTEN AS YOU DRINK IT, IN REMEMBRANCE
OF ME" [1 Corinthians  11:24-25].

In affluent countries people get their fill of material food and more but because of their gluttony they suffer from obesity and many health issues and ailments. However, no matter how much one eats and drinks material food, he or she can never quench the spiritual hunger, and thirst that he or she feels and suffers from. Only our Savior God Jesus Christ can satisfy the spiritual hunger and thirst. He says, "I am the Bread of Life, he who comes to Me shall NEVER hunger, and he who believes in Me SHALL NEVER THIRST" [John 6:35].

The genuine and practicing Orthodox Christian has the blessing and the opportunity to satisfy his/her spiritual hunger by receiving the Holy Eucharist in the Divine Liturgy not only on Sundays but on holy days of the week throughout the year when the Liturgy is celebrated. The Orthodox Christian believes that the "ANAMNESIS" ("REMEMBRANCE") is far more than thinking back about something; it is participating in it; In the Divine Eucharist WE PARTICIPATE IN CHRIST’S HUMAN NATURE. His "BODY" and "BLOOD". The New Israel, the Holy Church, provides the faithful with this spiritual nourishment at the Heavenly Banquet, the Divine Liturgy each and every time it is conducted.

It is NOT only the flesh of a person that needs nourishment to live but most of all his/her soul. The soul needs this divine and heavenly food for its survival. It cannot live without God’s grace. It is a fact, however, that human beings think only of gorging themselves with earthly food and drink that other than providing certain nutrients for the needs of the flesh it has no other benefits. People hunger spiritually when God is absent from their lives. Their lives are empty and meaningless without Him. They need God’s spiritual gifts to grow and to obtain spiritual well being. Those who seek material food will hunger again and again but he/she who seeks the Bread of Life, Christ, will never hunger.

"Our fathers ate the MANNA in the desert;as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did NOT give you the bread from heaven, but My Father GIVES YOU THE TRUE BREAD FROM HEAVEN. For the bread of God is he WHO COMES DOWN FROM HEAVEN AND GIVES LIFE TO THE WORLD. Then they said to Him, ‘Lord, give us this bread always.’ And Jesus said to them, "I AM THE BREAD OF LIFE, HE WHO COMES TO ME SHALL NEVER HUNGER, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN ME SHALL NEVER THIRST" [John 6:31-35]. It is our Savior Jesus Christ that everyone who is truly spiritually hungry and thirsty must seek to avoid dying from spiritual starvation which is the result of not believing in Him. Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ reminds us, "Most assuredly I say to you, UNLESS YOU EAT THE FLESH AND DRINK HIS BLOOD, YOU HAVE NO LIFE IN YOU. WHOEVER EATS MY FLESH AND DRINKS MY BLOOD HAS ETERNAL LIFE AND I WILL RAISE HIM UP AT THE LAST DAY" [John 6:53-54]. The Eucharistic significance of this passage is indisputable and clear. Jesus’ declaration that He is Himself "THE LIVING BREAD" which brings us life is intended to reveal the Eucharistic Feast. His OFFERING is NOT ONLY for His people but "for the life of the world." "For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood ABIDES IN ME AND I IN HIM" [John 6:55-56]. There is absolutely no room left for doubt about the reality of His flesh and blood, because we have both the witness of His words and our own faith. Thus, when we eat and drink these elements we are in Christ and CHRIST IS IN US" .

The reality, however, is A PROFOUND MYSTERY OF FAITH AND GRACE. Orthodox Christian Theology teaches that in the Divine Eucharist WE PARTAKE NOT SIMPLY OF THE PHYSICAL MATERIAL. BUT OF THE DEIFIED AND GLORIFIED Body and Blood of Christ WHICH GIVES RESURRECTION LIFE. "This is the bread which came down from heaven–not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats THIS BREAD WILL LIVE FOREVER" [John 6:58]. In the Orthodox Christian faith, spiritual hunger and nourishment are related to seeking RIGHTEOUSNESS and GOD, and ca be achieved through a variety of practices, including fasting, repentance, and prayer.

"Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ Fof after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ‘But SEEK FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED TO YOU" [Matthew 6:31-33]. "The Kingdom of God " is the central theme of the teaching of Lord Jesus, and "His righteousness" is the subject of the Sermon on the Mount. Calling us to be set free from ANXIETY ABOUT THINGS. Jesus directs us to look to heaven, to this Greater "COUNTRY" which will be received at the Day of the Lord, secure in the faith that God will provide needed earthly blessings.

____________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
+ + +

With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George