{"id":3308,"date":"2015-04-16T03:30:52","date_gmt":"2015-04-16T08:30:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicbookblogger\/?p=3308"},"modified":"2015-04-08T17:31:42","modified_gmt":"2015-04-08T22:31:42","slug":"church-fathers-day-269-st-clement-of-alexandria-want-us-to-be-moderate-and-give-thanks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/catholicbookblogger\/2015\/04\/16\/church-fathers-day-269-st-clement-of-alexandria-want-us-to-be-moderate-and-give-thanks\/","title":{"rendered":"Church Fathers, Day 269: St. Clement of Alexandria want us to be moderate and give thanks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"st_clement_of_alexandria_1\"<\/a>Be moderate and give thanks <\/strong><\/p>\n

You don\u2019t have to starve yourself to be a Christian, says St. Clement of Alex\u00adandria. If you\u2019re at a gourmet feast, eat moderately, show respect for your hosts, and give thanks to God. <\/em><\/p>\n

We don\u2019t have to keep away entirely from various kinds of food. We just shouldn\u2019t be obsessed with them. We should eat what\u2019s set before us, as becomes a Christian, showing respect for our host by a harmless and moderate participation in the party. We should look at the luxury of what\u2019s put on the table as a matter of indifference, despising the dainties as things destined to perish shortly.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet not him who eats despise him who abstains, and let not him who ab\u00adstains pass judgment on him who eats\u201d (Romans 14:3). And a little later he ex\u00adplains the reason for his command: \u201cHe who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; while he who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God\u201d (Romans 14:6).<\/p>\n

So the right food is thanksgiving.<\/p>\n

\u2013St. Clement of Alexandria, Instructor, <\/em>2.1<\/p>\n

IN GOD\u2019S PRESENCE, CONSIDER . . . <\/strong><\/p>\n

Is food always less important to me than thanksgiving? Or do I sometimes let food lead my thoughts away from God?<\/p>\n

CLOSING PRAYER <\/strong><\/p>\n

Lord, Savior and God of all, I give thanks for all the good things you have given me. Keep me under the shadow of your wings, and count me worthy till my last breath to share in your holy mysteries for the sanctification of my soul and body.<\/em><\/p>\n

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