Many ways to serve the Bread of Life…
For the next 4 Sundays we will hear from the Gospel of John with the theme of the Bread of Life Discourses –teachings from Jesus with a focus on whom he is and who we are to become by his presence in us. The teachings center on social justice/moral obligations–a call to share our blessings; especially with those who are less fortunate—reminders we all need to hear.
Our reading in the Book of Kings for this Sunday also includes bread and the multiplication of the barley loaves to feed those who are hungry. The blessing parallels Jesus taking the barley loaves and dried fish from a young boy to feed thousands. What some may not realize is that in ancient times, barley loaves and dried fish was the main single daily meal of people who lived in poverty and a young boy gives us his food for the good of others.
This fact is very significant in both the reading from Kings and the Gospel of John for this Sunday. It reveals the generous hearts of those who were living in poverty to take what is a gift from God and blessing it by sharing it, multiplying it for the good of others. Offering the “first fruits”, the best they had, and not hoarding, not simply concerned with themselves, but outward for the good of others. God’s bounty is multiplied by the generosity of the “least of the brothers and sisters of the Lord”, not the rich, who often in scripture are portrayed as not generous.
But richness comes in many forms. To live comfortably in America today would be equated with being very rich or even wealthy in the historical days of Jesus. It is no exaggeration to state that those who are comfortable in America today are richer than billions in other nations and island nations today. We have so many choices what to eat–when to eat, where to eat-snack foods–what to wear, where to buy- what car– what home, what flowers- which brand of water–which grocer, and on and on. So many options that so many of us have in our daily life it can be easy for us to take it for granted or we think of ourselves as just “average”; not true—we are far above average.
Then along comes the challenges of Jesus in our Gospel for this Sunday: “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” We need to ask ourselves, have we become so comfortable that we are removed from the mission of Jesus? Have we become so removed from the reality of what we truly need versus what we want? Have we become indifferent to the needs of others?
I think most of us, myself included, need these on-going teachings from Jesus, to remind ourselves of how much we have, how much we waste, and how little we share with people in need. Living Jesus requires a day-to-day journey of conversion; reminding ourselves daily that we are responsible for others if we claim to be Christian. Otherwise, we can slip into greed and indifference or just be comfortable with our lives and unintentionally ignore the needs of others as our responsibility.
Consider right here surrounding our parish neighborhood, there are many who are living in poverty, often not seen, or at times ignored. However, out of sight is not out of our moral responsibility. There are many in our community that are working 2 jobs and minimum wages just to pay the rent, and barely able to put food on their tables—they cannot get out of the “poverty level.” In our nation there are millions more who go to bed hungry every day because of economic conditions and a lack of work. This includes over 12 million innocent children who are hungry every day according to the US Dept. of Agriculture. Yet, hunger is one disease that is curable in our lifetime! We have enough food to feed all people in the world—we just do not share what we have.
What can each of us do? You are a generous parish, but many of us can do simple things. The St. Helena food bank is close by and always has many basic needs—dry goods; St. Vincent de Paul can provide more assistance to those who are less fortunate with your financial aid, and with your volunteer time to help, Family Resource Center located nearby provides services for families in need and can use donations. Our Catholic school struggles to provide enough tuition assistance for help families that cannot afford a Catholic education for their children. Yet desire to have a moral foundation in Christ along with an outstanding curriculum. Some are helping us sponsor funds for families so that they can have the peace in knowing their children are not only safe from the temptations in other schools, but are a part of a greater faith family and church.
The Bread of life is unity. Most of us can share more to help multiply the gifts we have been given for the good of the Body of Christ. Every outreach to help multiplies His reach and multiplies Christ’s love through us. By our sharing not only materially but also sharing of our time as volunteers and who we are is how the multiplication of the Bread of Life continues, that is how we become one, though many in gifts and blessings.
Fr. Gordon