Be well and be satisfied

Every day on the news there is another story about something new and different that people can do to live healthier and longer. This news is invariably followed by a series of commercials that claim their products will give people healthier and happier lives.

It is no surprise therefore that billions are spent on nutritional supplements, diet and lifestyle books, and all sorts of things that are supposed to make life great.

Yeah, right.

Part of the reason that billions are spent is because the first thing people buy does not come with the results they expected, so they go on to buy “The Next Big Thing” and so on and so on.

Sadly, many if not most of the people who chase after these things are motivated by the primordial human desire to feel satisfied and the simple human fear of death.

But we are all going to die, no matter what we do (although we need to be prudent stewards of God’s gift of life). Moreover, despite what advertisers or our own temptations may tell us, nothing in this world will ever give us complete and lasting satisfaction.

Ultimately, of course, the answer to our fear of death is hope of eternal life, which can only come from God eternal, and the fulfillment of our innermost yearnings can only come with experience of the infinite, which can only come from communion with the infinite God.

These things, however, are not merely hopes or dreams: they correspond with the promises and the action of God, as we hear in today’s readings.

In today’s Gospel (Matthew 15:29-37), our Lord cures people of their afflictions and he feeds them with the food they need.

And in today’s first reading (Isaiah 25:6-10a), we hear the wonderful prophecy of what God prepares for us: where he will fulfill every need and wipe away every distress, shame, or grief.

On this mountain the LORD of hosts
will provide for all peoples
A feast of rich food and choice wines,
juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.

On this mountain he will destroy
the veil that veils all peoples,
The web that is woven over all nations;
he will destroy death forever.

The Lord GOD will wipe away
the tears from all faces;
The reproach of his people he will remove
from the whole earth; for the LORD has spoken.

On that day it will be said:
“Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!
This is the LORD for whom we looked;
let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!”

May we not let ourselves be drawn into the desperate, useless scramble of people looking for eternity and glory in material things.

May we keep our focus on God, who will make us truly well and completely satisfied.

May we keep our focus on the glories prepared for us in the world to come and the grace that he gives us to live our lives faithfully in this world in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.