It's human nature to be hungry and thirsty. When we are hungry, we eat. When we are thirsty, we drink to quench our thirst. When we are tired, we rest. Jesus said: "Come to me all you who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you...my yoke is easy and my burden light."
The hunger, the thirst and tiredness never go away completely. It only goes away temporarily, and it comes back. I'm hungry again. I'm thirsty again. I'm tired again. I need food, I need drink and I need to rest.
Why did God make us this way? Why did God set a rhythm in our life. Why couldn't God create us without hunger or thirst? It would seem more efficient if we didn't have to spend all the time to eat and drink. But if there was no hunger or thirst, there wouldn't be communal gatherings to enjoy meals with others.
Why couldn't God create us without the need to rest. We could get more done if we didn't need to sleep. It would seem more efficient. Because God create a natural rhythm for human life. It's actually a good message for the summer months where many of us go on vacation, travel and take some time off from work. We take time to watch the fireworks in celebration of our nations birthday, or the Blue Angels. So that after a period of rest, we could return to work with renewed energy and new outlook and perspective.
Rest is not just an absence of work, but a time to re-examine our soul, and to see if we are spiritually aligned with God.
There was a story told about a group of explorers going through the Amazon jungle. And they were accompanied by a group of natives of the land. For two long days, they traveled through the forest. On the third day, the leader of the group wanted to keep pressing on and move forward. But the native people refused to move. They responded: "we have to let our bodies catch up with our soul." They were exhausted. Rest was necessary for them before they could move forward. Christ says in Mark 6:31 - "Let us go to quiet place and rest awhile." God create a natural rhythm for human life. If we go against the natural rhythm and flow, it doesn't hurt God. It's just not good for us spiritually and physically.
If we're hungry and we don't eat or drink, then that's not good. But it we eat or drink too much, especially when we're not hungry, then it's unhealthy. If we rest very little, it's not good for our body. But If we sleep too much, there's also something wrong. So the natural rhythm is a part of human life. It's the way God made us.
But why doesn't God take away the hunger, thirst or tiredness? Because deep down, we hunger and thirst for Almighty God. We can find true rest only in Almighty God. St. Augustine once said: "You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until it rest in Thee."
Sometimes our hunger and thirst can lead us away from God. Especially if we are not too careful. It can lead us down a path that is sour and bitter. It's like the younger child in the parable of the Prodigal Son. He was hungry and thirsty for many things. He had LOTS of fun. But after the life of dissipation, he is now empty. He has no money, no friends and no food. But he is still hungry. He wants to eat the food that pigs eat but he was forbidden. He realized that he had everything at home. With God we have everything. Even if we have everything but without God, we have nothing.
As many of us grow older and older, we have a responsibility to pray for the next generation. We already had our fun. So we take out our rosaries and devotions and keep the next generation in prayer. And we make it our duty to pray. Certainly it's good start spiritual disciplines at a younger age. But with age, we pray not with youthful passion but with a dutiful purpose. Especially as we prepare especially to see God face to face.
In the fourth chapter of John's Gospel, St. John tells us a story about the Samaritan Woman drawing water at the well around noon time. It's the hottest time of the day. It's kind of like what we are currently experiencing during these summer months.
During the conversation, the Lord said to her that he had special water. When she drinks this water, she will never thirst again. So she asked him: Sir, give me this water, so I won't have to keep coming this well to draw water. Christ responded: I am the living water. Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. The water will spring up, giving them eternal life.
Hunger, thirst, restlessness...these are indications of a deep yearning for Almighty God. Jesus said: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” God bless you!
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