Nourishment

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/012018.cfm) reminds me how important nourishment is. 

We Filipinos have a special love for food. During the holidays, people look forward to gatherings and get togethers not just because of the company, but because of the food as well. We all love to eat, that’s why a lot get bigger after the holidays. We love food, and we need food to survive. 

In the first reading, when David heard the tragic news, he and his men mourned and fasted. They fasted from food - from something essential to them. In the gospel, we saw Jesus' relatives seized him and took him away because he was so busy he did not have time to eat. This shows the importance of food. Of nourishment. Both physical and spiritual. 

Just as we take care of our body with physical food, so we should also take care of our souls with spiritual food. 

We eat physical food, so we should also consume spiritual food. We need spiritual nourishment. Praying, reading the bible, going to mass and going to confession are just some of the usual forms of spiritual nourishment we can give our souls. These things are essential for our souls to survive. We should be more cautious of this, because unlike physical food that we partake daily and we are obviously reminded when we lack, spiritual emptiness is not always obvious. We can ignore signs of spiritual dryness and still be able to live, unlike with physical food. This is why we should take extra caution to be careful and be more aware of our souls. 

May we never forget to nourish our souls just as we nourish our bodies. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another weekend. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for the reminder. Thank you for all the blessings. Thank you for my physical nourishment. Sorry for the times I ignore spiritual nourishment. Sorry for not giving it the importance it deserves. Help me be conscious of it. I ask that you help me be reminded to nourish my soul. May I never be too busy to realize spiritual dryness. Help me work hard to nourish and strengthen my soul. May I have the same desire for spiritual nourishment just as I love physical food. Amen.

Blessed weekend!

In Christ,

-g-

January 20, 2018

Saturday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 316

Reading 1 2 SM 1:1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27

David returned from his defeat of the Amalekites
and spent two days in Ziklag.
On the third day a man came from Saul's camp,
with his clothes torn and dirt on his head.
Going to David, he fell to the ground in homage.
David asked him, "Where do you come from?"
He replied, "I have escaped from the camp of the children of Israel."
"Tell me what happened," David bade him.
He answered that many of the soldiers had fled the battle
and that many of them had fallen and were dead,
among them Saul and his son Jonathan.

David seized his garments and rent them,
and all the men who were with him did likewise.
They mourned and wept and fasted until evening
for Saul and his son Jonathan,
and for the soldiers of the LORD of the clans of Israel,
because they had fallen by the sword.

"Alas! the glory of Israel, Saul,
slain upon your heights;
how can the warriors have fallen!

"Saul and Jonathan, beloved and cherished,
separated neither in life nor in death,
swifter than eagles, stronger than lions!
Women of Israel, weep over Saul,
who clothed you in scarlet and in finery,
who decked your attire with ornaments of gold.

"How can the warriors have fallen–
in the thick of the battle,
slain upon your heights!

"I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother!
most dear have you been to me;
more precious have I held love for you than love for women.

"How can the warriors have fallen,
the weapons of war have perished!"

Responsorial Psalm PS 80:2-3, 5-7

R. (4b) Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.
O shepherd of Israel, hearken,
O guide of the flock of Joseph!
From your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth
before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Rouse your power,
and come to save us.
R. Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.
O LORD of hosts, how long will you burn with anger
while your people pray?
You have fed them with the bread of tears
and given them tears to drink in ample measure.
You have left us to be fought over by our neighbors,
and our enemies mock us.
R. Let us see your face, Lord, and we shall be saved.

Alleluia SEE ACTS 16:14B

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Open our hearts, O Lord,
to listen to the words of your Son.
R. Alleluia, alleluia

Gospel MK 3:20-21

Jesus came with his disciples into the house.
Again the crowd gathered,
making it impossible for them even to eat.
When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him,
for they said, “He is out of his mind.”