EAT ENOUGH FOR THE JOURNEY

In today's first reading, Elijah is told to eat more or the journey will be too long for him. We all know the importance of keeping the kids hydrated during sporting events or making sure they get a good breakfast before they start the school day. We know that if they do not eat or drink enough the game or the school day will be too long for them. We eat so that we might have the energy to get through the day.
              In the Gospel, Jesus offers His people bread from heaven, except Jesus says that He is the bread from heaven, those who eat this bread will not die, and that the bread that He will give is His flesh for the life of the world. Jesus is speaking about the Eucharist.
The Eucharist is that which gives us the energy to live. Many people wake up, eat, work, and fall asleep, but Jesus wants them to experience real life, His life, Divine Life. If we spend our time lusting, being angry, envious, greedy, and proud, we are not really living - we are just slowly dying. However, we come alive when we are kind, compassionate and forgive one another. We come alive when we love one another as Jesus loved us.
However, if we really try to live as God created us to live, by loving as Jesus, loved, we need to eat the Eucharist or else the journey of a truly loving life will be too long for us. If we eat the Eucharist, if we are nourished by this Bread from Heaven, Jesus' flesh will give us the energy to truly live.  
God Bless,
Fr. Scott