The idea of physically living forever is something humans have contemplated for ages. Reflecting on the gospel of today I remember Thomas Hobbes’ assertion in his book “Leviathan” that “the life of man is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short.” No amount of carefulness in what we eat and drink, no investment or wealth can guarantee living forever. They are all temporary.The manna the Israelites ate in the desert kept them alive for a time, but they eventually died.
Jesus offers a message of hope that Has lifted the world from the darkness of pessimism and despair: Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and I shall raise that person up on the last day.
Living forever starts here with Jesus. Those who heed this call from Jesus to “eat” His Body and “drink” His blood are no longer simply living out their days on earth; they are part of something bigger, something eternal.
While our physical bodies may not last forever, through faith in Jesus and His Word, we can experience a spiritual life that transcends our earthly existence. We are what we eat.
