BE A PELICAN
A Midweek Spiritual Workout with
Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin
BE A PELICAN
Consider the pelican, a noble bird who returns exhausted to its nest from a long and fruitless search for food and sees its chicks crowding around to swallow the fish it will disgorge. The pelican sees their gaping mouths and hears their frantic gabbling. For a moment the pelican stands as though listening to some secret inner command. Then, suddenly it raises its beak above the young and arches its neck backward prepared for the strike. It is not the babies that it would harm, but itself. The pelican punctures its own breast, ripping open its flesh until at last, it stands astride the nest offering its own flesh as food before it dies.
The pelican symbolizes Christ, our Redeemer, who was called the Pious Pelican in the hymn of St. Thomas Aquinas, "Adoro Te Devote." Christ suffered and died for our sins. And today He continues to feed us with His own Body and Blood in the Holy Eucharist. We just need to approach the table and receive Him with reverence.
The Creator has placed within all creatures not only a strong hunger but also a strong desire to respond to the cries of hunger. Christ feeds us with His flesh so that we might go out and feed others.
On this Spiritual Workout Wednesday, like Christ, let's go out and feed others. Feed someone spiritually with a prayer. Feed someone intellectually with a conversation. Feed someone emotionally with a kind word. Feed someone physically with some food. Be a pelican!
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