Today’s Readings:
Acts 8:26-40
Psalm 66:8-9,16-17,20
John 6:44-51
Food and language are necessary for life. When you travel to a new place, whether it is a new city or country, some things become immediately apparent to you. If you do not know the language, there is a language barrier. If you are not very open to different kinds of food and delicacies, there is a food barrier. So, communication and nutrition become problems. And these are two things we often take for granted but we cannot do without them. When you speak to someone and they cannot understand you, you feel lost, disconnected and powerless. When you lack the right palette for food, and you eat something you are not conversant with, it might result in stomach upset, and distaste and you might choose not to eat together. Then, you are counting the moments until you leave that place.
This is the situation the Ethiopian eunuch found himself in when he read the passage from the prophecy of Isaiah, speaking about the suffering of the Son of Man who was to take away the sins of the world. The eunuch had neither the language nor the cultural background to understand what he was reading. But God sent Philip to counsel, instruct and lead him to the waters of baptism. Many people today presume that because they can read, they can pick up the Scriptures and understand them. This is similar to entering a new city and presuming that you will understand the language and start speaking. It doesn’t work like that. You need someone to guide you—you need an orientation. Without a guide, you are only going to make a mess of yourself. You will say things that make sense to you but are completely meaningless to the other person. You will perform gestures that are meaningful to you but will be misunderstood by the person you are communicating with.
We are guided by the Church, not just the Scriptures. The Magisterium (the teaching authority of the Church—the Ministers) provides an authentic interpretation of the Scriptures and traditions of the Church so that your understanding is the same as that of everyone else in the believing community. We are also nourished by the food of our soul which is the Eucharist. Jesus says, “I am the Bread of Life”. The Word and the Eucharist go together. To partake of one without the other is malnourishment. The table of the Word and the table of the Eucharist go together.
JUDE-MARY OWOH
To surrender your life to Christ, say this prayer aloud. “Father, I acknowledge my sin against You. I repent and ask for forgiveness, in the name of Jesus. I surrender to the Lordship of Jesus. By the power of Your Holy Spirit, take control of my heart and lead me in Your path of righteousness. Thank you, Lord.”
If you said the prayer, Congratulations! Prayerfully look for a living church and report to the resident reverend, pastor or priest.
Prayer:
May God’s word purify you and may the Eucharist nourish and strengthen you. In your time of confusion, may God’s word give you wisdom. When you are not sure of what to believe, may the Word through the authentic interpretation of the Church, provide insight and a way out of darkness.
May the life-giving nourishment of the Eucharist, preserve you from wrongdoing, error and corruption.
May Jesus, present in the Eucharist, console you in moments of grief, fill you with joy and lead you to true peace and prosperity all the days of your life, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
Guide me this day, O Lord, along the path of wisdom, righteousness and peace, through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.
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