From today's readings: "As for you,
son of man, obey me when I speak to you.... How sweet to my taste is your
promise!... Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. "
Eating
Words
None of us enjoys the healthy and humbling and occasionally
essential task of eating our own words, having to retract mistaken opinions or
erroneous facts uttered or jotted down on an earlier occasion. Generally though,
before we can even get started on such an distasteful course, we need the
nourishment from a fuller bite of reality. But that in itself can be even more
unappetizing - like rebellious babies, we may squirm and turn away in disgust,
but as with all vital victuals, even the most bitter dose of reality must
eventually be chewed and swallowed...
When it comes to feeding us with His Word of life, God knows
we're all too often like those fussy babies who try spitting out whatever
doesn't fit their fickle taste. But like all good parents, God patiently coaxes
and prods us to open our mouths to eat what He gives us - and, of course, He
only gives us what is absolutely best for us!
Reading through the words of
Ezekiel and the other books of the Bible, we find so much that is sweet to the
taste, appetizing, and even delightful to chew on! But if we're thorough about
reading everything on the page and eating everything on the plate, like all
good little children, we also need to take in even those morsels and mouthfuls
that, at least at first bite, might be a bit harder to swallow and stomach.