What We Work For (2012-08-19)

This is my homily for 19 August  2012 (Sunday). I am a Catholic chaplain in Teaneck at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU) campus and for the FDU Newman Catholic Association. We celebrate Catholic Mass - during Fall and Spring semester - every Sunday Evening (7:00 p.m.) at the Interfaith Chapel, 842 River Road, Teaneck, NJ.  We resume Sunday August 26, 2012. 

[__01]   How do you and I work – or labor – for our food?

Working for our food is something we do beyond the harvest, beyond the farm.

We work at home to prepare meals. We work intellectually –mentally – to understand what we are consuming, receiving – in the breakdown of both food calories and food chemistry.

What is it that we are consuming?

And, we know the commonsense and scientific fact:  “you are what you eat.”

[__02]   Working for our food reminds us not take the good things of the earth for granted.

In working for our food, we set an example, or follow the example of gratitude for what we receive.

In understand what we eat – even studying – we set an example – and follow an example of discernment, discrimination. It is good to have a discriminating sense, taste and palate.

[__03]   St. Paul, writing to Corinth (à 1 Cor 10) takes this a step further.  That is, not only is the individual changed by what he or she consumes, not only are we changed as individuals by what we eat/consume, but so is the whole community.

An example is being set by what we receive, by what we consume.

This is part of the Holy Eucharist in the example set by Jesus.  Jesus lays down his life for us, we are called to do the same for each other.  (cf. John 15:13, “no greater love…”)

[__04]   Paul, writing to the Corinthians, speaks about the fact that certain things, certain foods also in ancient Greece – in ancient Greek society – were associated with the Greek Temple, were associated with non-Christian practices.

An example is being set by Christians who also participate and consume any and all of the above.

[__05]   Paul writes to believers in metropolitan Corinth known to be a place where many things could be bought and sold, typical of a large city today – Boston or Buenos Aires.

Now, Paul is writing explicitly about food.

Nevertheless, we could apply his message to the big city where we can – possibly - consume almost anything, food we taste, music we hear, images we see.

While everything is possible, not everything is nourishing, and everything sets an example.

Paul admits, writing --

 “Eat anything sold in the market without raising questions on grounds of conscience, for the earth and its fullness are the Lord’s.” (1 Corinthians 10:26)

The “earth and its fullness are the Lord’s”, so God created everything. Cherish these things, give thanks.

And, we know that God calls everything good that he makes.

Paul indicates that while everything may be permissible, not everything will be beneficial, not everything will be good for us.

[__06]  Each day, we are called to work – to discern – - to labor - to pray – for our daily bread.

Physically, we are accustomed to doing this.

And, we are called to do this in a spiritual sense as well, what are we to consume.

[__07]  The Good News is that the Lord introduces the Eucharist to us as the food for which we do not work or pay.

Jesus says, “My flesh is true food, by blood is true drink.” (John 6:51-58)

This sacrament is given to us as nourishment, but it also meant to remind us of the effort involved, the work of Jesus’ passion, his death and resurrection.

An example he has set for us.

And, we are called to set an example for others, by what we receive, consume, and by what we pray for each day.  [__fin__]