tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post1408233059003824539..comments2024-02-09T02:48:13.776-06:00Comments on Daily Meditations with Fr. Alfonse: Jn 6:35-40 Spiritual HungerFr. Alfonsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02557206560119402976noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-56173144584471551962014-05-08T05:59:34.171-05:002014-05-08T05:59:34.171-05:00Book of Judith is one of my favorites in the OT. ...Book of Judith is one of my favorites in the OT. I really love all the bible stories depicting courageous and holy women. Esther is another book to check out if you haven't read it already. <br /><br />-J.Jennifer B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15338737502809429613noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-73323859141913730422014-05-07T18:17:58.891-05:002014-05-07T18:17:58.891-05:00Thanks for the compliment. I forgot that episode i...Thanks for the compliment. I forgot that episode in Kings, but you're right; that does happen: that woman would be the desperate starving person. When I think of history, and the way people won battles, you learn that people won them through food, not really weapons or tactics. The Crusaders would have had much better luck if only came down to military prowess; what they lacked were adequate supplies. The concept in most of these conflicts was simple: besiege a place and starve them. The only places in the ancient world that could withstand a siege were places that had nothing to begin with (i.e. Sparta; all the tribes north of the Alps) and places next to sea (i.e. Athens, Carthage, Constantinople). Right now, I'm reading Judith, which recounts a siege that almost drove the town of Bethulia into surrendering, but is saved by the courageous woman Judith. I was curious about this book after seeing so many paintings of this woman holding up the head of some Persian general named Holofernes--Baroque painters seemed to love this subject. The book makes the point that her chastity and austerity gives her strength while the gluttony and lust of the general renders him vulnerable. Physical and spiritual virtue met in the heroine, Judith.<br /><br />I think this siege continues in a spiritual way for most people in the West. People often cave into the pressures of sin instead of holding out a little longer and trying to gain control. As you said, in the developing parts of the world, hunger still ravages the population, and those of us in developed countries too often play the role of Pilate and wash our hands of it. God bless the missionaries and workers who risk their neck to give food to those poor people in the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa. They face unimaginable odds and horrible persecution that no one wants to talk about. You can be sure that the Holy Spirit inspires these heroes. Benedict Augustinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07274188116075677081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-439331035718369167.post-79112552969239927962014-05-07T12:27:05.808-05:002014-05-07T12:27:05.808-05:00Excellent meditation! Looks like your font select...Excellent meditation! Looks like your font selection matches perfectly with Fr. Alfonse's! ;)<br /><br />I know whenever I'm hungry I become very irritable and crabby. Cynicism sneaks into my thoughts, too. My mind drowns itself in negativity. But once my belly is full I feel whole and nice again. Fasting during Lent doesn't seem all that agonizing because I know I will be able to eat whatever I want soon. But for those who are genuinely starving to death, it's a whole other story. I think about the hundreds of pounds of food we waste every year when poor children in Africa are starving to death. I recall in 1 Kings 6:29-30 the sometimes overlooked story of a woman who eats another woman's child but hides her own son so he will not be eaten the next day! Heart wrenching that such severe hunger causes people to do the most heinous actions. <br /><br /> When we don't satisfy our spiritual hunger with fulfilling and nutritious Christ- inspired cuisine, we truly miss out on His loving grace. I'm thankful each day that the Holy Communion is available for us to partake. The Eucharist gives me strength and encouragement knowing I will never be spiritually hungry or thirsty.<br /><br />Great thoughts! Keep up the inspiring posts. :)<br /><br />-JenniferJennifer B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/15338737502809429613noreply@blogger.com