If you’re not famished for spiritual things, chances are it’s not because you have feasted and are satisfied, but that you have snacked on junk food away from the true table. When your soul is stuffed with small things, there is no room for the great.
If you don’t have a hunger for God, perhaps it is because your god is your belly: “Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things” (Phil 3:19).
Study Audio
LOVE the Word(TM) is a method of Bible study based on Mary’s own practice. This week’s LOVE the Word(TM) exercise is based on an Augustinian* personality approach. Go on! Try it!
Listen (Receive the Word)
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst” (John 6:35).
Observe (Connect the passage to recent events.)
On a daily basis, as you approach each next meal, do you allow yourself to get hungry or do you eat something as soon as you feel the early pangs?
Practice delaying your meals to allow yourself to get hungry before you eat. As you do so, and especially as you fast this next Friday for Lent, pay attention to your hunger pangs. Ask yourself, In my world, what am I most hungry for—right now, this year, for the rest of my life? Be specific. Perhaps just the question has every hunger you’ve ever experienced surfacing, leaping out of the water like spawning salmon. You may answer: “I want a bag of potato chips.” And maybe that’s true on the surface. But what’s under that desire? Are you actually hungry, or bored or sad instead? Can a bag of chips relieve any of those deeper longings? Why are you bored? Why are you sad?
Maybe the first question is, What am I really hungry for? But to get deeper and know what we yearn for, we have to keep asking why till we get all the way to the bottom of the desire. It’s very important to know what a true hunger is, because that may actually be what God wants to give me.
Verbalize (Pray about your thoughts and emotions.)
Talk to Him about your desires and longings until you get to the bottom of what you’re really hungry for. Ask God for that, because “He rewards those who diligently seek Him” (Heb 11:6). What do you need to do to “diligently seek Him”?
Entrust (May it be done to me according to your word!)
Receive the Eucharist with the intention that God might satisfy your hunger. Pray for that intention, and thank Him for the answer to that prayer, before you see the answer, as you kneel in His presence after Communion.
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*LOVE the Word(TM) exercises, vary weekly according to the four personalities, or “prayer forms,” explored in Prayer and Temperament, by Chester Michael and Marie Norrisey: Ignatian, Augustinian, Franciscan, and Thomistic.
Scripture References for the Show
Luke 1:46-55, the words of the Magnificat
And Mary said:
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;
49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 And his mercy is on those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm,
he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,
52 he has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent empty away.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.”
Hunger in the Bible
Old Testament Hunger Is Primarily Physical
- Deuteronomy 8:2, “I humbled you, I allowed you to be hungry so that you would know man does not live on bread alone.”
- 1 Kings 17:6,15, Elijah was fed by ravens, and lived for many days on a handful of meal, he and the widow of Zarephath.
- Psalm 37:25, “I have been young, and now am old, yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”
- Psalm 34:10 (Vulgate), “The rich have wanted, and have suffered hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not be deprived of any good.”
- 1 Samuel 2:5, “They that were full before have hired out themselves for bread: and the hungry are filled.”
New Testament Hunger Is Primarily Spiritual
- Luke 6:21, “Blessed are they that hunger and thirst for righteousness; for they shall be filled.”
- Matthew 4, fasting hones spiritual focus
God Fills Us with Himself
- Psalm 81:10, Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
- John 6:35, Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.”
- Hebrew 11:6, But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
- Matthew 7:10, the answer to prayer is always fish
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Join the Conversation
What’s you favorite spiritual junk food? What spiritual food satisfies you most?
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For some people in today’s world , that seem to think Jesus is irrelevant , that are trying to fill there emptiness with new age spiritualities , that are growing deft with all the noise of this world .
Let me tell you , the comment about Jesus on the Cross and the sin of impurity are more relevant to today’s world than ever before , we just have to turn the tv on and see the attack on purity , how desensitized we have become that we call anything and everything love.
I’m listening , to every word you share with us , I listen in the morning and then again later in the day , you know how you can read or hear something and learn something new each time , I do , and Mondays are a better day just because I look forward to listening .
You are so right. Our times are evil, but the opportunities are enormous. We were made for “such a time as this!”
Sonja. You said you thought we all left you-ha! So far-I believe, this one along with the first one touches the closest to God’s message to me. the first one, about Mary *being* the Magnificat—I was walking out side, on a clear, cold night, praying about Who I am to the Father, Who he is to me. I am a singer,(but had kind of given up or lazy) about that-and the Lord invited me to sing for Him-in church. So -under a clear, cold night, under the stars, Moma Mary, through your words, led me to know Who she is to the Father. And/Who I am. There were many tears of happiness and joy.
But this one-is a different level. I’ve been through the re-birth of faith. I hit the contraception wall, as well. Past that now. We/I don’t suffer physically. It’s definitely spiritually. Our family is on the road to healing…and, I don’t want to screw it up!!!! There is a definite death to selfish desires, rightly ordered thinking. Re-programming the *lies* I have believed and have been used against me. This all leaves battle scars.
???? Could you address Spiritual battle scars? Or have you already?
Next series-Eschatology!!!!!!????????????????????
Thank you for your “yes” . It’s been the answer to prayer.
Janet Spiritual battle scars: Unleashed and Fearless! Have you read either of those? I talk about my own with rage and woundedness, how to recognize your patterns and receive healing through the Holy Spirit. Unleashed first, then Fearless.
Your song is sweet as the Magnificat :)
I have both!!! But-I tend to skip around. Like-I don’t remember reading about your son’s accident.
So—back to the beginning.
Especially since I will be facilitating your DVD’s after Easter!
Which do you recommend we do first?
Unleashed first, then Fearless :) Hugs!
I loved your teaching! Thank you so much for all the time and study you put into preparing, and thanks so much for the study references.
[curtsy] My privilege!
Oh, the blessing of hunger. Thank you for this, Sonja. Hit me with your best shot. I need it! Thank you. Bless you. I like both of your ideas about next studies. Honestly, I haven’t done many of the lectio exercises, but I did do the one today. Wish I could have heard you in person this past weekend!
Are you in MO? I must have sounded whiny/plaintive on the show about comments. Ya’ll have chatted me up today. I love it!! Love and hugs!!
I love the series. I have read both your books. Both have helped me grow tremendously in my faith practices. I really felt like you were talking about me today- the red dot in a sea of blue. I feel like no one is looking for God or even interested. It is so hard to look around and wonder where is everyone and why aren’t they as interested in what God has to say to us!? It can be quite lonely,really. I know that I have company in my prayer life but sometimes it would be nice to have a friend or two for the journey here. Thanks for loving and lifting us! I enjoyed the LOVE notes, would like to know more about the personalities or prayer forms.
Ask the Lord and the Blessed Mother for that heart-faith-friend ( I did for you, too); they will send you one! I can’t remember the name of the authors or even the book right now, but in the radio notes under resources (I think) the book with the personalities is listed there.
I can tell I was whiny in the show; you guys have been so sweet with your comments today! <3
I am guilty of not lifting and loving you up lately. ????Sorry as the podcasts are just great. Loved the leaf waving frantically in the breeze image. That’s how I feel. As I have said before, I am amazed we don’t pass out boxes of tissues as people enter the Mass because I cry all the time by the time I finish communion and wonder why nobody else is weeping.Your thoughts on the sins and the Passion had me reaching for a box of tissues. I am spiritually hungry for God to serve me up a big slice of humble pie. I know I am too full of other stuff lately. As for next series – eschatology would be my vote. We are living in evil times. Thanks for all you are doing to keep us focused on the good and plentiful.
Yes you do love and lift me; I was feeling whiny and whined on ya’ll. It’s LEEEEEEEEENT!
I may not always post but I am here listening and
Love your notes & reference please don’t stop posting them because I really do use them .
And no you are not whiny ???? I am sure there are so many more people that listen you can’t imagine ‘ that I know this bc I listen to a lot of other teaching & never post , post bc sometimes I feel that it may not get there or I may sound silly or can’t seem to fine the words to express what I really want to post therefore i just don’t post ????
Maybe others feel the same or too shy ( like me)????
Please don’t stop teaching us .
Love what God is teaching me through your word . ❣
Marina ❤of Texas
<3 you!
Oh Sonja you are such a blessing and so amazing. You teach with love from the heart. We love you so much and thank God everyday you share your light (gift) with us and you do not hide it under a basket,
We are here and we are listening. I share you with everyone who will listen to me. And Please Please never ever worry about the tears you shed when you are speaking to us. When I hear them I picture your great love for Jesus. Your are the women kneeling at his feet washing them with your tears and drying them with that beautiful hair of yours.
Thank You from all of us in Erie,Pa.
I have something enormous in my eye, Chris. Offering it up for Allison :)) Hugs.
Love the show and the notes. This one really hit me. I printed out your notes so I can keep them! :) I also love both upcoming ideas that you have. We can always learn from Mary and I would welcome that opportunity and I COMPLETELY AGREE that we are on the threshold of something BIG. It was no accident that last year was the Year of Mercy and this year is 100th anniversary of Fatima, 500 anniversary of the Protestant Revolution and 100 year anniversary of communism… all in 2017. (And side note: Fatima is Muhammad daughter’s name… the Muslims symbol is the crescent moon and we know Mary is the Woman with the moon under her feet. I think she will bring about their conversion… and hopefully the conversion of all!) It would be a great thing to cover soon!
Yes, Fatima will be the key to the Muslims for sure. It’s an incredible time to be alive!
We are still here! I love all your suggestions for upcoming series topics. But…I’d love to have one on anger. How to allow God to overcome this sin of the flesh. Because you’ve been so open about your struggle with anger, I think you’d be perfect!
You’ve got it! But it will have to be down the road; I did a series on anger last year. “Twelve Angry Men” :) Ha!
Can I access the 12 angry men ones? I think I did listen to that. Did you talk about depression being an inward form of anger on that one? Maybe I need to listen to that series again. Can I??
I was actually going to get it for you but I lost all of those series when I moved from Breadbox and Podbean :(( Yes, that’s where I talked about depression as suppressed anger. I’ll do it again, but in the meantime there is a section in Fearless about depression too, at the end. Miss you! Hugs <3
Got it!! Thanks, Sonja. Happy Holy Week.
Sonja, you hit it out of the ballpark every time, love your teaching and teaching style. I truly look forward each time you show up in my inbox, I listen and re-listen until to take it all in. So you need some suggestions on teaching subjects. End time teaching as you touched on would be great and how about the “prosperity message”. I have returned to the Catholic Church year absence, been back 6 years, and I was caught up in this so-called prosperity preaching. Looking back over the years that teaching was what I call a “moving target”. It never ended up the way it started, you could never arrive, it wasn’t stable, in other words, it wasn’t inclusive. Don’t mean to rant on and I could go on about it, so what do you think, would that be a good subject to teach on? I’m back in the Church and loving it not without opposition, however.
Bob, I think that’s a great idea! How about something like the 10 most annoying non-Catholic teachings debunked, or some such? What would your top 10 be?