PENTECOST XX
October 18, 2020
“Hungry No Longer”
“Come in — it’s so good to see you — are you hungry? Let me get you a bite to eat. How about a cup of coffee? I just made a fresh pot. Come, sit down. I’ll have it ready in a minute.” These words probably sound a little old-fashioned or more typical of certain parts of the country, but to many of us they bring warm memories of beloved grandparents, relatives, and old friends.
Feeding people as a way of showing love for them is both universal and timeless, as we read Gospel accounts of Jesus and his disciples being offered hospitality in the form of food and shelter as they traveled throughout the countryside. Jesus was concerned that the crowds following him should not go hungry, and he would instruct the disciples to be sure they were given something to eat. This was not necessarily an easy task, as there were occasions in which the people gathered in a remote area, without readily available food. All four of the Gospels give accounts of what is known as the “Feeding of the Five Thousand,” in which enough food appears to feed the huge crowd that had gathered to listen to Jesus. In all of these instances, our Lord gives thanks, blesses the food, and everyone has enough to eat.
Our understanding of expressions relating to hunger and feeding is broadened as we learn more of Jesus’ teachings and instructions. The Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-11) include many well-known and often-referenced “blesseds” but one you don’t hear as often is the one that tells us, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” A spiritual emptiness, a craving, a yearning for a relationship with God, is the most desperate need a human can experience But here is the Good News — we are assured that that deep-down hollow place will be filled with God’s boundless love, forgiveness and compassion.
In the Gospel of John, Jesus refers to himself as “the bread of life” and tells his followers that whoever comes to him will never be hungry; that they will receive life eternal through him. The disciples struggle with this concept, complaining that it’s too hard to understand. But by using the imagery of physical hunger, and the weak and empty feeling one has, and then likening spiritual hunger to that same emptiness and craving, our Lord provides a vivid picture of the soul’s need.
Last week’s newspaper had an article reporting that the Nobel Peace Prize had been awarded to the World Food Program, an agency of the United Nations, “for its efforts to combat hunger, for its contribution to bettering conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and for acting as a driving force in efforts to prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war and conflict.”
As efforts are ongoing around the world to meet the needs of starving people, we recall how Christ gave thanks, blessed, and shared the bread. By his example, may we feed the hungry and the hungering.
Nourished by God’s Word,
Your friend in Christ,
Mary Rogers