
3 minute read
Feed Those Who Are Hungry
from September 2021
Gò0dNews for Everyone
Feed Those Who Are Hungry
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by Nicole Wiley
Many of us who grew up in the South understand all too well that food is the way to one’s heart. Recipes are treasured more than gold, and anything that came from our mother’s kitchen is valued more than anything from a five-star restaurant. Now that I have moved to Washington, D.C., I have learned that many things are different, but some things, like gathering around with loved ones for a special meal, are exactly the same.
My university’s Catholic group held a large Thanksgiving dinner where each of us brought a dish and came together to laugh and fill our plates high with food. Before our meal started, two individuals walked into the room unaware that our group had reserved the place for our dinner. Our Priest greeted them with a smile and asked if they were here to eat, and with anxious grins, both said, “We’re not religious, I’m sorry, we didn’t realize you all had the room reserved. We will go somewhere else.”
With no hesitation, Father said, “That’s okay. Are you hungry?” The couple nodded their heads almost in disbelief that someone could be so accepting of those different than themselves. At that moment, nothing about them mattered except their need. They were hungry, so they ate. They ate with gratitude and enthusiasm, seated among those of us who welcomed them with open arms…because three turkeys were more than enough to feed us all.
In this lifetime, we are all hungry at one point or another for something. Many times, that something is food or water, but other times, we hunger for something more. We hunger for love, acceptance, forgiveness, and empathy. Some hunger for merely the feeling of knowing that somebody cares about them. As Christians, we need to be the ones to step up and feed those who are hungry. The Bible is filled with simple verses about feeding those who are hungry and giving water to those who are thirsty, but oftentimes, I think we forget that this concept was the primary foundation of Jesus’ ministry. In a literal sense, Jesus provided fish and bread to those with little to eat, but He also fed the souls of everyone He met.
Jesus provided medicine to those who hungered for healing and assurance to those who hungered for strength. No matter the person and no matter their circumstance, Jesus fed them simply because they were God’s creation. We are all God’s creation. This is a fact that cannot be debated among churches, denominations, or congregations because it is a fact that was established on the first page of the Bible. If Jesus thought that each one of us was worth dying for, we must approach each and every person with that same love and respect. Prejudice has no place in Christianity. Judgement has no place in Christianity. Hate has no place in Christianity.
Jesus told us exactly what belongs in Christianity. He said that love has a place in Christianity, as well as kindness, generosity, prayer, humility, and forgiveness. You see, our tables are not large enough to fit every bowl of food, so we must choose wisely which ones we choose to fill up. Together, let us make the decision to fill up our bowls with compassion, understanding, patience, and all the good things that Jesus showed us. If we fill our bowls with this type of food—this much spiritual food—we can begin to feed all those who are hungry.
“As evening approached, the disciples came to Him and said, ‘This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.’ Jesus replied, ‘They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat’” (Matthew 14:15-16).
About The Author Nicole Wiley is a student at American University and attends Saint Anne’s Catholic Church in Washington, D.C.
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