When I was young I remember hearing about a man who decided that he was going to eat a car.  He was determined to consume the entire thing, bolts, tires, windows, everything.  Now, what would lead a person to consider doing such a thing?  Certainly he was going to get a little attention from the media for doing something so outlandish.  Perhaps he was even going to make a little money from a bet or some sponsors.  However, I don’t think that any of those enticements would ever even remotely get me to eat even one part of a car.  For me there is only one way to describe someone who would consider something so crazy – fool!  Eating a car is foolish.  All kinds of things can go wrong and you could end up with all kinds of permanent internal damage.  Now maybe you have never heard of anyone trying to eat a car but I would guess that many of you have heard of people eating other crazy things like live goldfish or worms or some other disgusting bugs.  People sometimes do foolish things.  In doing those foolish things they sometimes put their life in peril.

     What we eat becomes a part of us.  We eat to have life, to be nourished, refreshed and energized.  Eating can give us joy through the nutrition that is provided for life and for the pleasure that we receive in eating fine, rich foods.  The wise person recognizes the importance of eating right and filling ourselves with things that are good for us and will help us to be strong.  If we eat well then we will live well.

     Now I would venture a guess that no one that you know has ever tried to eat a car and that you wouldn’t do anything quite so foolish.  However, I would also confidently assert that most of us eat things that are harmful to us every day.  We take in all kinds of negative images and ideas, through our eyes, ears and mouths that can be just as harmful to us and can lead to a slow death.  Everything that goes into us becomes a part of us in some way and when we watch violent movies, perverse sexual behaviors, degrading images on television and over the internet, when we engage in gossip, complaining, cynical comments, angry rantings all these things become a part of us and form a part of our life experience.  Now I am sure you will claim that you don’t “swallow” all of these things and yet slowly you will assimilate some of these into your life and they will take a little of the true life away from you.  A lot of the things that we are exposed to in the world today are toxic and they can slowly drain us of life.

     Our first reading from the book of Proverbs today counsels us, “Forsake foolishness that you may live;
advance in the way of understanding.”  Wisdom provides a rich banquet for us to enjoy and when we eat the rich and healthy foods of wisdom then we will grow strong in life.  Wisdom is found in God’s Word  and in our converse with God in prayer.  If we daily eat of God’s Word and drink in the wine of compassion and love that he offers us then we will become more and more like God.  St. Paul also encourages us to, “Watch carefully how you live, not as foolish persons but as wise, making the most of the opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore, do not continue in ignorance, but try to understand what is the will of the Lord.”

     Jesus as the Word Incarnate gives us a way to dine on wisdom and life by offering us his body and blood.  His flesh is true food and his blood is true drink and, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.”  When we participate in the Eucharistic banquet Jesus becomes a part of us and we become a part of him.  In this way the divine life of the Trinity dwells within us helping us grow towards eternal life.

     Only a fool would eat a car, and only a fool would swallow the things that the world offers us on a daily basis.  Our daily bread is Jesus and the love of God that he provides for us and the truly wise person recognizes this rich food and makes it part of their regular diet.  When God offers us such wonderful food for life why would we ever choose to eat anything less.  It is time for us all to “wise up” and eat what is good for us, the bread of life that God provides for us through Jesus in the Eucharist.