The Second Reading this Sunday describes the spiritual quest that lies ahead on the road of recovery. Saint Paul writes to the Ephesians:

All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling
must be removed from you, along with all malice.
And be kind to one another, compassionate,
forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.
So be imitators of God, as beloved children, and live in love,
as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us
as a sacrificial offering to God for a fragrant aroma.

These are marching orders that cannot be completed on our own. Just as God has lifted us and given us new hope and purpose, we are to continue seeking Him as the source of everlasting life. This is made possible by the strength of community, the grace that accompanies working the Twelve Steps, and embracing Jesus Christ in the sacraments.

There is a spiritual dimension about us, the soul, that must be fed if we are to grow. Just like the muscles of our body break down if we do not get physical food, our souls tend to become lethargic, hopeless, and unhealthy when impoverished. This is the condition of many around us, giving us reason to soften our expectations of others as we begin to make our own progress with the help of God.

Prayer is a good foundation for our spiritual diet. Spending quality time with God brings rest and renewed hope for the recovery journey. When we allow ourselves proper quiet space, we get an opportunity to savor the mystery of God. Spiritual reading brings a desired depth to our mind and can help counter-act futile thoughts and discipline our hearts and our minds.

Corporal and spiritual works of mercy provide an excellent way to transition from bitterness, fury, and anger to an attitude of forgiveness, hope, and imitation of God. When we accept God’s mercy and share it with others, a divine hunger is filled.

Finally, we can feed our soul with the spiritual food of Jesus—the Eucharist. “I am the bread of life,” Jesus proclaims again in this Sunday’s Gospel Reading. The food that brings everlasting life is the same that provides us freedom from addictions, compulsions, and unhealthy attachments, one day at a time.

Reflection Questions

• Can you identify with Elijah’s feeling of wanting to give up the fight?
  • What happened and how did you find the grace to overcome?
• What spiritual food is your soul craving?
• How do you embrace God’s mercy and share it with others?

Sunday Mass Readings

First Reading: 1 Kings 19:4-8
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
Second Reading: Ephesians 4:30—5:2
Gospel: John 6:41-51

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