Our very life depends upon it

Today in the first reading from Mass, the Universal Church is described to us through the use of an allegory. As we read this passage from the Book of Ezekiel, we need to remember that life is completely dependent upon God. Without God, we wither and die. You see that reality in the eyes of society today…There are many among us, who are fully animated by the life of Christ - You can actually see this within their eyes - And sadly, there are some who are among the “walking dead” - You hear it in the tone of their voice - Their eyes are dead, even though their bodies are alive - Again, this is reality - A sad reality - But it is also a choice…..”Along both banks of the river, fruit trees of every kind shall grow; their leaves shall not fade, nor their fruit fail. Every month they shall bear fresh fruit, for they shall be watered by the flow from the sanctuary”……….Everything we see around us will fade and die - Except for the human soul…The human soul is eternal….And like all things that live - The soul needs to be nourished - Or it too will die……Jesus tells us point blank in Scripture how we nourish our soul……”For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me”…..We can not get around this reality…The Blessed Sacrament, when received in the state of grace animates our very life - And it shows…..Our world is not convinced…..Jesus gave us the Blessed Sacrament to nourish us for the "long march" to heaven - And yes - Its a long march, with many trials and difficulties, which accompany all of us in this life…..Without this “heavenly food” we are at a great disadvantage…But don’t take my word for it…Again, Jesus opines….“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”…..Today in the first reading from Mass, we are reminded of our need to “feed our soul”…....Like all things that live - The soul lives or dies by what we feed it

“Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”

For all the Catholics reading this reflection…If you have ever been around college age young adults, who attend authentic Catholic Colleges…You will notice that when you speak with these young adults or are even around them, there is a certain tangible reality of the Holy Spirit that emanates from these kids - It comes from every part of their being…How they talk - How they interact with each other, etc…Its so tangible……This reality is an example of what we are told today in the first reading at Mass…..God animates us by his very life….And without “the flow from the sanctuary” - We slowly die……I remember one year while in India serving with Mother Teresa’s sisters eating lunch and sitting next to me at one of the restaurants in the City of Kolkata, where all the volunteers ate each day was this young man from St Louis, Missouri…Since he was an American, I struck up a conversation with him…He told me flat out that he was an atheist…And to be very honest with you, it showed…..Allow me to explain - When you volunteer with Mother Teresa’s sisters, the people for the most part are so full of the Holy Spirit - So alive - The minute I started to speak with this young man, who told me he was an atheist - I could tell “something was off” immediately……..Just by the tone in his voice….Why is that? - Because he had “no life in him” - It was so evident and tangible to perceive……God animates our very life - He gives us lasting joy, peace and hope….This is real - I am not telling you a fairytale!…And guess what? - When a person has this - It shows!….And guess what? - When a person does not have this - Its shows too!…..I work in Corporate America in New York City….There are days when I ride the elevator to the 21st floor where I work and I listen to people talk….Just by their tone - How they interact with each other….They are completely died inside…Its so clear….How insincere they can be when they greet one another….Again - The lack of God’s life within them shows……I bring this up because what we hear from Jesus is true….His body and blood are “true food” and it gives us life!…..As clear as the nose is on your face - The animating life of Christ is real!

“There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God, the holy dwelling of the Most High. God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed; God will help it at the break of dawn”

Today at Mass, we are told that everything flows from God - He is the source of life….Without the animating spirit of God flowing through us - We slowly die inside…..Each and every person is connected to God - Whether they realize it or not…Mother Teresa put it this way, when she taught this idea to her sisters and later to the world………“The wire is you and me; the current is God,” she said. “We have the power to let the current pass through us, use us, and produce the light of the world”…..Allow me to present you with another example of this same idea…….You can buy a lamp for $100,000 dollars…But if you do not plug that lamp into an electric socket in the wall of your home - That lamp will produce no light...…The same goes for us…....God is the source of all light…If we do not “plug in” to him…....We can not be the people we were ALL born to be…....Why? - Because we can not give what we do not have…..Jesus tells us this again…..”I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing”…What happens to a branch when it is removed from a tree? - It turns brown, withers and dies…..The same goes for us - We all came from God and we were made to stay grafted to him……Our very life depends upon it…..JMJ

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