Why would you die starving,

while you have food within reach?

 

Fr. Tadros Y. Malaty

 

       Is it possible for any living creature to go on living without food? Even animals, birds, fish, and plants are in need of food to grow and flourish. Is it possible for your body to live and function without food? Impossible. So then, how would it be possible for your soul to live without food? What is the soul’s food?

       Some philosophers gathered to meet with St. Anthony the Great. They expected to see a very serious old man, that doesn’t know how to smile. They expected to see that due to old age, his smile would have worn down. And how astonished they were when they saw a very happy old man who was constantly smiling. And signs of happiness reflected on his facial features and words. His famous phrase was “As our body needs food, our soul needs joy.”

God had founded the Garden of Eden to nourish the bodies of our parents Adam and Eve. And He used to appear to them and talk to them. “And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” (Gen 3:8) And by His presence, He nourished them with joy and bliss. If man had not fallen into sin, he would have savored (enjoyed eternally) the Word of God. God came to him to give him His heavenly joy, so his soul would live and nourish eternally. Since man had fallen, God sent them His holy Law, and the Word of God Himself was incarnated, to make the believer enjoy Him. So we shouldn’t be surprised when God calls us saying, “I am the Bread of Life, he who accepts Me will never hunger. He who believes in Me, will never thirst.” (John 6:25) And He also assured, “So he who feeds on Me, will live because of Me.” (John 6:57)

 

THE BIBLICAL LIFE

 

       God did not send His commandments to enforce His laws and ordinances. Nor did He come to implement regulations for us to adhere (abide) to. But He wants us to find Him a living, fulfilling feast for our souls. He introduces Himself established within the words of the Bible, to get to know Him and to love Him, and to have Him living in us, and us living through Him! He is the heavenly, joyful Feast.

       A British lady got into an accident that caused her to lose her sight, so her spirit fell into despair. One of her friends started to speak with her concerning our Lord Jesus Christ as the “Joy Bearer.” And she used to comfort her with words of the Bible. Her spirit was uplifted upon hearing these words, and she wished to make up for all the years that she lived away from the joy of the Lord. So she asked her friend, what she can do, now that she is blind. Her friend ordered her a Bible written in Braille (so that she could read by touch). Unfortunately, by the time she had received the Bible, her finger sensations were affected by the accident. So she began to learn to read the Bible with her tongue. And her comment was that she read the Old and the New Testaments twelve times, with her tongue, and found it very sweet. The sweetness of our Bible is when we meet with Our Lord Jesus Christ who opens our hearts with His Holy Spirit to descend with the Father in our heart, and turn them from a heart of flesh, to heaven!

 

THE GLORIOUS LIFE

 

       The intention of the Holy Bible is to elevate the human spirit to heaven to experience the glorified life. One of the Fathers from the second century would spend his nights kneeling in front of the Holy Bible, mixing with his readings, prayers, and conversing with his Savior. He used to feel the internal glory of unity with his Savior. He cried out one day, “Would I ever find a greater glory in heaven than when I read the Bible?”

       The Holy Bible begins with first man living as a king in Paradise having dominion over all animals and living creatures. Man, even later on, had the ability to go to space. The Holy Bible ends with the gathering of all generations around Jesus Christ and His glory and He enters with them in the Father’s bosom to share in His heavenly glory.

 

A PERSONAL ENCOUNTER

 

       I know someone whose son passed away during his high school senior year, and that pushed his father into a deep reading into the Holy Bible during his sick years. After his son passed away, he came and said to me, “Jesus Christ has come and taken my son and took his place in my home with His presence.” He became very attached to the Bible; he could not take his hands, eyes, and heart off It. He told me “When the doorbell rings, I find great difficulty to open it. And after the visitor comes in, I still don’t want to depart from the Word of God.”

       We are in great need for the Word of God on a personal love as well as an ecclesiastical love!

       David lived a life of tribulation; he suffered much, even from the king he himself saved (Saul), and his beloved mentor, Ahithophel, and his son, Absalom. In the midst of all these tribulations, “Your testimonies also are my delight and my counselors.” (Psalm 119:24) There is a huge difference between someone that reads the Bible and someone who eats of the Bible and savors its sweetness!

 

NEW SONG

 

       God created man as a joyful creature, his whole body moves with music. So He is capable of controlling his behavior and his thoughts. God gives us the Bible not just to  read it, but to sing It as a new song. So in all occasions (even funerals) the Bible is read (sung) with a different tune. It is as if the Church is inviting us to listen to the tune of the Holy Spirit playing on the Harp of the Holy Bible. So it works in us and continually renews our life.

 

       A certain preacher was watching a simple shepherd bitterly crying, so he asked him why he was crying. The shepherd answered that a dog ate a part of his Holy Bible. Smiling, the preacher said, “Don’t cry. Right now I’ll give you another copy of the Bible!” So the shepherd said, “I’m not crying because I lost my copy. But I’m crying because the dog will no longer attack wolves or foxes. The Holy Bible changed my vicious nature, so what can I do? The dog will no longer be able to protect my sheep!” Without understanding the shepherd thought the Bible would change the dog, because It changed him.

 

HOW CAN I PARTAKE OF THIS HEAVENLY FEAST?

 

·        Our study of the Word is an encounter with the Holy Trinity to experience the Fatherhood of our Father, and the salvation of the Son, and our union with the Holy Spirit. Continually mentioning the name of the Holy Spirit creates a new atmosphere of friendship and fellowship with God. Start your readings with prayers and conversing with the Holy Trinity.

·        As you concern yourself with your physical health, as in daily meals, you need to be as concerned with your soul’s. Don’t make it sporadic, but rather make it a priority in your daily life.

·        We need to have a general understanding of the Holy Bible as a whole as well as both testaments, and then each book.

·        The Holy Spirit Who inspired the Word is the One Who reveals the Word to your soul. We need to set a quiet time aside with ourselves under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

·        Our study of the explanations of our Forefathers in the East and West provides a safe path to realize, understand, and enjoy the Word.

·        Your concern for your brethren’s enjoyment of the Holy Bible, whether through your words, your interactions, your letters, or your emails, opens their heart to enjoy the Word. If you care for your brethren, God will care for you, that you may enjoy Him more and more.