Feeding the Hungry

After Jesus had left that place, he passed along the Sea of Galilee, and he went up the mountain, where he sat down. Great crowds came to him, bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others. They put them at his feet, and he cured them, so that the crowd was amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel. Then Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I have compassion for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat; and I do not want to send them away hungry, for they might faint on the way.’ The disciples said to him, ‘Where are we to get enough bread in the desert to feed so great a crowd?’ Jesus asked them, ‘How many loaves have you?’ They said, ‘Seven, and a few small fish.’ Then ordering the crowd to sit down on the ground, he took the seven loaves and the fish; and after giving thanks he broke them and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. And all of them ate and were filled; and they took up the broken pieces left over, seven baskets full. Those who had eaten were four thousand men, besides women and children. After sending away the crowds, he got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan. Matthew 15:29-39

We find ourselves in a time when there is great hunger in a nation of abundance. Wealthy leaders have cut off assistance to the neediest among us and are rounding up innocent refugees and immigrants. On the other hand, after healing so many, Jesus had compassion of the crowd, as he did not want them to even faint going home. The crowd that Jesus fed had seen the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking and the blind seeing. Yet, even after all those healings Jesus felt there was more to do. His compassion resulted in great abundance. As his followers, we are called to so likewise and not send people home hungry and fainting. May we rise up, gather up food and share our abundance with those who need our help.

Gracious Creator, source of our abundance

you give us rain and sun to feed the crops

and abundance to gather in every autumn.

We stockpile goods and withhold them

believing that some so not deserve food

deepening the pain of the sick and hungry.

Lord Jesus, give us your compassion today

so we might care for the hungry people

and share your abundant love with all. Amen.