More than once, in listening to Catholic Answers Live, I have heard them make dismissive comments about people who complain that they "aren't being fed" in the Catholic Church. Usually these are people who have left. And usually the remark is that these people are ostensibly seeking good feelings. The guests should be good enough apologists to know that the metaphor of bread, to a Protestant, refers to the (written) Word of God, and that "I'm not getting fed" probably means "I am not hearing enough solid, challenging, thoughtful teaching based on the Bible". After all, being fed has to do with sustenence, with what you need to live, and having good feelings does not. So I'm disappointed in this. Heck, I am one of those people who doesn't feel he is being fed by his pastor, or nearly any priest I hear preach at Mass. (Or by the parish for that matter.) I count myself blessed to come away from a homily with a single interesting point relevant to my life. (Some days I settle just for interesting points.) (I hope my pastor doesn't run across my blog. If so, he's much better than most, and he will actually quote the Fathers, which I won't get from nearly any Roman priest.)
Is it possible that some who say they aren't getting fed are referring to emotional highs, what we call "consolations"? I can't rule it out, but this is not the only case.
Interestingly, Jeff Cavins, a solid guy whom I respect, has written a book on this topic: I'm Not Being Fed: Discovering the Food That Satisfies the Soul.
Now he seems to define it as longing for a more personal, 'spiritually nourishing' relationship with Jesus. I looked inside the book and he describes people with these complaints as wanting "more upbeat and informal worship, impromptu prayer, small Bible study groups, and a vibrant sense of community and fellowship. They want to be around people who love Jesus and aren't afraid to say so. They aren't satisfied with going to church once a week, but want to meet with other Christians several times a week, even on a daily basis, if possible. They are on fire for Jesus and frustrated by what they perceive to be roadblocks to expressing their passion."
This sounds right on target. There is nothing wrong with these desires. Ok, so wanting more upbeat and informal worship may be what they have in mind when they talk about feeling good. Maybe, possibly, people "feel good" from the fellowship, but I'd hardly criticize someone for wanting to meet with other Christians. But I don't think you can reduce the frustration and emptiness that fervent believers feel to a question of "they don't get good feelings". That's just downright insulting. There is nothing about these desires that shouldn't be a goal of every Catholic parish, save for upbeat and informal worship, and that's not because I don't personally like it, it's just not essential like the other things.
So there is more to not getting fed than not getting warm fuzzies. The comment more often, I think, means "This is place is almost totally dead".
When you have several people in your church you can call on to assist you in a way that for the typical person, only a family member would come to mind, then that could be a parish that feeds you. When the parish challenges you and helps you be a better Christian on a regular basis beyond just dispensing sacraments, then that could be a parish that feeds you. When most of the people you go to church act like a Christian the other 167 hours of the week, then maybe it feeds you.
