the famine of famines
"Yes, days are coming, says the Lord God, when I will send famine upon the land: not a famine of bread, or thirst for water, but for hearing the word of the Lord." —Amos 8:11
Amos prophesied that there would be a famine of God's word. This is far worse than a famine of food, for without God's word we cannot live forever with the Lord. If we starve to death physically, however, we can rise from the dead and live in perfect love forever. No matter how many tragedies we suffer, nothing can separate us from the love of Christ (Rm 8:38-39). But "ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ" (Catechism, 133). This is the worst tragedy possible, for eternal life is to know the Father and the One Whom He sent, Jesus Christ (Jn 17:3).
Consequently, let us not destroy ourselves by a self-inflicted famine of God's word, that is, spiritual anorexia. Let us repent of stuffing ourselves with the things of the world and the flesh to the point of causing ourselves to lose our spiritual appetite (Prv 13:19). Let us renew our baptismal promises by rejecting Satan and all his works and by believing totally without any reservations in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Then we will feast on God's word, live it fully, share it joyfully, and abide in it (see Jn 8:31).
Prayer: Father, may Your word have the place in my life You want it to have.
Promise: "Overhearing the remark, He said: 'People who are in good health do not need a doctor; sick people do. Go and learn the meaning of the words, "It is mercy I desire and not sacrifice." I have come to call, not the self-righteous, but sinners.' " —Mt 9:12-13
Praise: Lydia, a young woman, so hungered for God's Word that she prayed with others for a new outpouring of the Holy Spirit to inspire her to seek Scripture more often.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert A. Stricker, December 13, 2003
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 18, 2003