ACC ~ Mark 11 v12b

THE LORD OF GLORY VULNERABLE TO HUNGER

HILARY OF POITIERS: As we behold the mystery of his tears, [1] hunger [2] and thirst, [3] let us remember that the one who wept also raised the dead to life, rejoicing for Lazarus. From the very One who thirsted flowed rivers of living water. [4] He who hungered was able to wither the fig tree which offered no fruit for his hunger. How could this be, that he who was able to strike the green tree dead merely by his word could also have a nature that could hunger? [5] This was the mystery of his hunger, grief, and thirst, that the Word was assuming flesh. His humanity was entirely exposed to our weaknesses, yet even then his glory was not wholly put away as he suffered these indignities. His weeping was not for himself, his thirst was not for water, nor his hunger merely for food. He did not eat or drink or weep just to satisfy his appetites. Rather, in his incarnate humbling he was demonstrating the reality of his own body by hungering, by doing what human nature does. And when he ate and drank, it was not a concession to some necessity external to himself, but to show his full participation in the human condition. ON THE TRINITY 10.24. [6]

[1] Cf. Jn 11:35.

[2] Cf. Mk 11:12.

[3] Cf. Jn 19:28.

[4] Cf. Jn 4:10.

[5] Cf. Mk 11:14.

[6] Cetedoc 0433, 62A.10.24.3; NPNF 2 9:188**. Being in the form of God he humbled himself and hungered with us in servant form, in order to identify himself with our human hunger.

FOR WHAT DID HE HUNGER?

AUGUSTINE: Did Christ really want physically to relish and consume fruit himself when he sought the fruit of this fig tree? And if he had found it there, would he then even have eaten it? Did he really want to drink water when he said to the woman of Samaria, “Give me a drink”? [1] When he was on the cross saying “I thirst,” [2] was this really all about his physical thirst? For what does Christ hunger more than our good works? For what does Christ thirst more than our faithful response? ON THE PSALMS 35.15. [3]

[1] Jn 4:7.

[2] Jn 19:28.

[3] Cetedoc 0283, 38.34.2.4.2; NPNF 1 8:83**. He was hungry for food but more so for faith active in love.