You Are What You Eat

Many of us have heard the phrase “You are what you eat”. There is much around today that guides us to eat what is said to be good. There are countless books and articles on healthy eating.

I have enjoyed Tim Spector’s book “Spoon Fed.” In it, he argues that to find the best way of eating, we need to ignore much of what we are told. Spector’s myths include the idea that fish is always a healthy option and the dogma that “sugar-free foods and drinks are a safe way to lose weight”. He had subsequently written a book, “Food for Life”, where he offers more information than ever before. It aims to think about food for “our individual health, the health of our society and the health of our planet”.

Today, the readings in scripture are about the ultimate good and healthy food for all of us. In the book of Proverbs, we have the image of Wisdom, building a house and preparing a meal and inviting the simple and those without sense to “Come and eat my bread and drink the wine I have prepared.” We continue our reading from the 6th chapter of St John. Jesus said: “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” Jesus continued, “Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day. For my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.”

For my summer reading, I have picked up Christopher West’s new book, “Eating the Sunrise. Meditations on the Liturgy and our Hunger for Beauty.” Christopher West has written extensively on the Theology of the Body which he based on the teaching of St Pope John Paul II. Here, he explores the connection
between the Eros (our longing for God) and the Eucharist. He says the whole purpose of the liturgy is to orientate ourselves, our human longing, to the bridegroom who is Jesus Christ. The Eucharist is the sacrament of the Bridegroom and the Bride.

We all worship something, whatever we think will satisfy our hunger. True worship is to take our deepest hunger and thirst to that which truly satisfies. Jesus has become the bread of life. He alone can satisfy us.

Here is a prayer of St John Chrysostom, an Eastern father of the Church, that is said after Communion:

“Therefore, I pray Thee, O Master, for Thou alone art holy, sanctify my soul and body, my mind and heart, my muscles and bones. Renew me entirely. Implant Thy fear in my fleshly members and let Thy sanctification never be removed from me.

Be my helper and defender, guide my life in peace and make me worthy to stand at Thy right hand with all Thy saints.

By the prayers and supplications of Thy most pure Mother, of Thy spiritual servants, the most pure angelic powers, and of all the saints who from all ages have been well-pleasing to Thee. Amen”.