Acts 8:1b-8
Psalm 66:1-3a, 4-5, 6-7a
John 6:35-40
Throughout Lent, we practiced self-denial in "giving up" something for Christ. This became, as it were, our fasting to be done, along with prayer and giving alms to the poor.
The purpose of these practices was to open us up to God in the gift of His Son. The more we fill our lives with possessions and achievements, the less and less open we become for God. We become, so to speak, awake to the things of this world, and asleep to the things of God.
Lent was a remedy of this being asleep to the things of God by putting to sleep our desire for the things other than God.
This emptying of our desires for the possessions of this world opened us up to another hunger for God. It is only in this state of being hungry for God that we can hear the words of our Lord:
"I am the bread of life; whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst."
Christ our Lord is indeed our bread, and our drink, but we in turn must do what we can to be alert to our hunger for God if we are to appreciate the promise His Son offers us today.
While Lent is behind us, to a certain extent, we should not let go entirely of the spirit of Lent. We should continue emptying our hearts for the satisfactions of this world, to find our satisfaction in the food and drink our Lord desires to be for us.
Father Ed Bakker
Anglican Catholic Church / Original Province
Mission of Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne
Bendigo
Australia
