Honey

“Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life.’” (John 6:29).

Institution of the Eucharist (Ercole de Roberti)

Did you know that honey is the only food that will never become rancid and will never expire.  If there is pure honey – that is honey without any additives – it will last forever and be safe to eat forever…

In some cultures, and in ancient times, honey was used to cover the body or coffin of the deceased person as a way of embalming the body to try to preserve it.  Of course, the body would be affected by insects and animals that fed off the honey, but the honey itself was seen as a mechanism to preserve…

And I have been reflecting on this treatment of honey and of eternal life.  You see, Christ offered us the Eucharist.  He told us that He is the Bread of Life.  And instead of offering food for the flesh, He offers food for the soul.  And when people heard that many people turned away.  For many people that was simply asking too much…

“When the people saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Caperna-um, seeking Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, ‘Rabbi, when did you come here?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life.’” (John 6:22-29).

So right after the miracle of the loaves and fish, when people started to follow Christ around looking for free food, then – right then – Christ reminded them about the “honey” so to speak…  He reminded them about the food that lasts eternally…And as a result, a great many people turned away from Him.

And I have been thinking about that today.  You see, Christ did not “sugar-coat” things.  He did not make things appear better than they were.  And in fact, the real situation was often worse.  And the result of that truth is that people – like me – who are weak, will often give up and stop…

And I have been reflecting on that today.  For it seems that I spend my life trying to grab some loaves and fishes from God, when He is trying to feed me the Eucharist.  And instead of focusing on the most important job of obtaining and eating of the food of eternal life, I am completely and utterly fixated with the loaves and the fishes of this world.

And how ironic, that a soul like mine which has received so many advantages from God – having been born into a Catholic family and raised as a practising Catholic with access to all the Sacraments – that I am still so distracted by the things of this earth…

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.