Weekly Reflection - 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time

"Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life."  (Jn. 6:27)

This Sunday's gospel gives us a further explanation of the Eucharist.  We live in a frenetic world where it is easy to be swept away by inertia.  There's no time to waste, the number of fast food restaurants and microwave ovens make this apparent.  We seldom read things to the end and reading headlines only is more common.

The paradox is that we could be spending our time and energy on ego centered thinking and acting.  Spending time with God is something we don't make time for.  We were created to know God, to love Him and to serve Him in this life so as to be happy with Him forever in the next.  At some point we just need to ask ourselves if we are happy and recognize that outside of God our hearts will always be restless.  "You created us for yourself Lord and our hearts are restless until they rest in thee." (St. Augustine's Confessions).

Questions for Reflection: 

• Do I ask God regularly in prayer what He wants? 
• Have I learned the practice of how to discern the will of God in my life? 
• Do I seek counsel and spiritual direction when facing more difficult decisions?