“‘I have food to eat of which you do not know.’ … ‘My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish his work.’” (John 4:32, 34)

In this retreat journey, we have been learning together how to tune our hearts to God’s channel—allowing hardened paths to be softened, turning back from the state of the prodigal son who has drifted away from God, and imitating Mary of Bethany and St. Francis in choosing the one thing necessary with radical detachment. In contrast, the elder son’s hidden sense of entitlement and envy separates us from the Father. Today, Jesus reveals to us the most perfect “tuning”: to let our whole being—mind, heart, and spirit—be fully aligned with the Father’s will, so that His will becomes our deepest desire and our daily food.

Imagine the scene after Jesus’ conversation with the Samaritan woman at the well. The disciples urged Him to eat, but He replied, “I have food to eat of which you do not know.” (John 4:32) The disciples remained at a worldly level of understanding, but Jesus revealed the truth behind His words:

“My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish his work.” (John 4:34)

For Jesus, true nourishment is not bread or rest, but perfect obedience to the Father—the fulfillment of His will to save humanity.

This desire drove Jesus throughout His entire public ministry. When He taught us to pray, He said in the Lord’s Prayer, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10). In the agony of the garden of Gethsemane, He prayed, “Not my will, but Yours be done.” (Luke 22:42)

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus also reminds us: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21) Words alone are empty; only by doing the Father’s will can we enter the Kingdom.

The life of Jesus is a complete and unwavering “yes”—a total obedience to the Father’s will.

When we contemplate the heart of Jesus, we clearly see God’s desire: that our will be united with His, and that our desires be shaped by His plan.

Yet knowledge alone is not enough. We may know the right words and be familiar with spiritual practices—prayer, service, devotion—but do we truly live out our faith?

Jesus illustrates this with the Parable of The Two Sons: A father asks them to work in the vineyard. The first says, “I will not,” but later repents and goes; the second says, “I go, sir,” but does not go. Which one did the father’s will? It was the first, who acted (Matthew 21:28–32). Without sincere action that stems from the heart, verbal or external obedience is meaningless. True sincerity lies in obedience, not in appearances.

This reveals an important truth about our relationship with God: faithfulness is mutual.

God faithfully fulfills His promises, and we are called to respond faithfully to Him. A true relationship is built on living out God’s Word, not letting it return empty.

Consider this: if you were a father, which son would you trust more—the one who promises but does not act, or the one who repents and follows through?

 What God desires are children who take responsibility for their role, imitating Christ’s perfect obedience. To listen without responding is futile.

This is the key point:

a well-tuned heart does not just listen—it desires, acts, and completes God’s work.

Let us put aside empty words and embrace concrete action. In daily life—persevering in prayer, serving the marginalized, forgiving our enemies—

we must not only say “yes” with our lips, but live out that “yes” with our lives.

Let our “yes” be united with Christ’s. This Lent, let God’s will become your food. Then your softened heart will become a vineyard bearing eternal fruit.

Let us listen attentively and interiorize Jesus’ teaching with a spirit of obedience:

“‘I have food to eat of which you do not know.’ … ‘My food is to do the will of the one who sent me and to finish his work.’” (John 4:32, 34)

Reflection

What in my life prevents me from treating God’s will as my true “food” as Jesus did?

In what situations am I like the second son—saying “yes” to God with my words, but failing to act?

Am I content with merely hearing God’s voice, or do I long, with an obedient heart, to let His Word bear fruit within me?

Today’s Prayer

Heavenly Father, Jesus treated doing Your will as His food and perfectly completed Your work of salvation. Align my desires with Your will; tune my heart so that I may be in harmony with You. Forgive me for those empty words of “Lord, Lord” and for the commitments I have failed to fulfill.

May I be like the first son—repentant and willing to act in sincere obedience. Grant that in my daily life I may respond to You faithfully and obediently. As You are always faithful to me, may I also be faithful to You.

May Your Word not return empty, but bear fruit in my softened heart. Make me a child who truly longs for and lives out Your will.

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