• Editor’s note: “Spiritual leaders answer” is a weekly column inviting Kaua‘i’s religious and spiritual leaders to share their doctrine’s perspective on a suggested subject. Every Friday, a topic is printed, inviting a response. Due to space limitations, submissions are
• Editor’s note: “Spiritual leaders answer” is a weekly column inviting Kaua‘i’s religious and spiritual leaders to share their doctrine’s perspective on a suggested subject. Every Friday, a topic is printed, inviting a response. Due to space limitations, submissions are edited. Thoughts or suggestions for future topics are always welcome. Next week’s subject is on fame . The topic at the end of the column is for the following week.
Vince Perry
Catholic Answers
Jesus challenges everyone with His teachings about nourishment. Thousands of His followers left Him the day He said, “…unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you have no life in you; he who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed.” (John 6:53-55 RSV) At the Last Supper Jesus gave bread to His disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body” and He gave them a chalice saying, “Drink of it, all of you; for this is My blood of the covenant…” (Matt 26:26-28)
Today, millions of Christians believe that Jesus was only speaking figuratively. He once called himself “a door” and “the true vine” but all of the early church fathers interpreted these communion passages literally. As renowned Protestant historian, J.N.D. Kelly wrote: “… the consecrated bread and wine were taken to be, and were treated and designated as, the Savior’s body and blood.” (Early Christian Doctrines, 440) Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and disciple of the Apostle John wrote: “[Heretics] abstain from the Eucharist and from prayer because they do not confess that the Eucharist is the flesh of our Savior Jesus Christ, flesh which suffered for our sins and which the Father, in His goodness, raised up again. They who deny the gift of God are perishing in their disputes.” (Letter to the Smyrnaeans, A.D. 110)
Ignatius also represented the teachings of the Apostles when he wrote: “Let that be considered a valid Eucharist which is celebrated by the bishop, or by one whom he appoints. Wherever the bishop appears, let the people be there; just as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church.” (Ibid., A.D. 110) For more information, visit the library at catholic.com.
Kahu Dr. James Fung
Lihu‘e Christian Church
“We are what we eat.” We’ve all heard that saying. It’s true whether we’re talking about our physical, mental or spiritual selves. The mental images, the recurring worries, the old memories, the voices from the past that continue to echo in our subconscious minds — these also feed our inner spirit and play a substantial part in shaping the person we become.
If we eat all the things that taste good but are not good for us we’ll eventually end up with the addictive outcome of our self-destructive choices. The same goes for our inner life.
The Bible says, “As a man thinketh so shall he be.” In other words, the thoughts that our minds dwell on inevitably lead us down the path of those thoughts. Any wonder why people who feed themselves on violent images on television night after night may be prone to choose violence as a way of resolving conflicts?
Jesus was aware that we need to be nourished at the deepest levels of our being with the positive impulses that enable us to die to our old selves and embrace the higher life: That we might love even those who don’t love us back; to do the right thing even when no one is looking; to forgive those who have done wrong because they, too, are children of God and deserve a second chance. He taught his students to not only gain the insights of faith but to internalize his teaching.
He said, “I am the vine, you are the branches. Abide in me as I abide in you. (Gospel of John, chap. 15)” In other words, let the nourishment of my divine power flow into your lives.
If we were to let God’s energy flow into our lives imagine what might happen. That’s the adventure we call Christianity.
Baha’is of Kaua‘i
From an early age children must be provided with healthy food so they do not develop a taste for foods that are injurious to their health or to reject healthy foods that are beneficial. Illnesses are frequently caused by the imbalance of certain nutrients. Once the balance is obtained, health is often restored without medication. Too much salt, sugar, fat or carbohydrates can all result in illness. When the diet is regulated, good health can return.
Because man is both of a spiritual nature and a physical nature, sustenance must be of both kinds. Just as it is the responsibility of the parents, to make available physical nutrition and educate the child as to what is healthy to eat and what is not healthy, the parents must also provide the child with spiritual nourishment and education.
Children must be provided heavenly food which consists of the love of God, the knowledge of God, the mysteries of God and the bounties from God. Children must be taught to worship God through prayers and service to others. They must learn obedience to God’s laws so that they will be able to benefit from His love and beneficence.
One of the gifts God has provided to uplift our spirit is that of music. In the following quote, it is called the spiritual food for the hearts and souls, “Among some of the nations of the Orient, music and harmony was not approved of, but the manifested light, Baha’u’llah, in this glorious period has revealed in holy tablets that singing and music are the spiritual food of the hearts and souls. In this dispensation, music is one of the arts that is highly approved and is considered to be the cause of the exaltation of sad and desponding hearts.”
Topic for two
weeks from today
• Will you speak to us on
reconciliation?
•Spiritual leaders are invited to e-mail responses of three to five paragraphs to pwoolway@kauaipubco.com
• Deadline each week is Tuesday, by 5 p.m.