Even when we are spiritually hungry ourselves, we can help feed others
When we hear the Scripture readings for the 17th Sunday of Ordinary Time, we should ask ourselves whether we believe what we are hearing is true and whether the readings make us hopeful or cynical.
We’ve all heard these Old and New Testament stories before. Large groups of people gather, and there doesn’t seem to be enough food to go around. Some leaders become afraid and want to send all the people home without food. Instead of sending people home, the prophets and Jesus invite them to sit. They ask the disciples to find whatever food is available. God’s blessing is called upon the food, which is shared with everyone there. There are always leftovers.
These stories are the beginning images of what we are offered in the Eucharist. At that feast, all are welcome and there is always enough. Jesus is more than enough to quench our thirst and fill our hunger. There is no need to send anyone home; all are called to the table.
In each of these stories, the people present don’t get to pick what kind of food they receive — they are given food from heaven. Some of us are hungry and thirsty in life, but we are picky about what we think we deserve.
Most of our hunger is not physical but emotional and spiritual. We sometimes get an idea about how God should come to us or whom He would send to bless us. If it’s not the right kind of blessing or the right kind of person, we still think we deserve something better or different. We can get so picky that we miss the blessing right before us.
I would imagine that most of us are people who pray. After hearing these readings this weekend, I might suggest that we be specific with God about how we are hungering. Speak to God about the ways that we feel left out of the richness of the world and haven’t satisfied our appetite. Speak to God about our willingness to wait on His response to our hunger. Speak to God about our willingness to be empty for a while so that He can fill us. Wait on the Lord, for He is worth the wait.
While we are waiting for God to respond to us, take a look around at other people. Have we noticed that they are also hungry and empty? Sometimes, when we are empty, we feel sorry for ourselves and don’t notice the others around us. Think about what we might have to offer to others. We might have extra food in the pantry to offer a hungry person. We might have some extra time this week that we could offer to a lonely and isolated person. We might have some wisdom that would be a gift for someone to receive. We can feed others even when we are hungry and waiting.
If we don’t become too self-centered in our emptiness, we often discover that the very act of turning toward another and serving their need fills us up way more than anything we could ever offer them. It is in giving that we receive.
Father Donald Wester is retired and serves as lecturer of homiletics at Kenrick-Glennon Seminary.
