AC 5293 - "Food" - Especially Spiritual Food

AC 5293

And let them gather all the food.
(Genesis 41:35)

That this means all things that are of use,
is evident from the meaning of "gathering,"
as being to bring together and preserve;
and from the meaning of "food,"
as being things that are of use.
In the internal sense "food" properly means
the things that nourish the soul of a person,
that is, that nourish him after death,
for he then lives as a soul or spirit,
and no longer needs material food,
but spiritual food,
which consists in everything that is of use,
and everything that is conducive to use.
That which is conducive to use
is to know what is good and true;
that which is of use
is to will and do what is good and true.
These are the things that nourish the angels,
and are therefore called spiritual and heavenly food.
A person's mind within which
are his interior understanding and interior will,
or his intentions or ends,
is not nourished by any other food
even while he lives in the body.
Material food does not penetrate to the mind,
but only to the things of the body,
which that food sustains to the end
that this mind may enjoy its food
while the body enjoys its food,
that is, that this mind may be sound in a sound body.

That "food" in the spiritual sense
denotes everything that is of use,
is because all a person's knowing,
and all his understanding and being wise,
and therefore all his willing,
ought to have use for their end;
consequently the quality of his life
is according to the quality of his use.