Dear friend,
Welcome to week seven of BMW, Be My Witnesses. I believe that one of the chief ways for us to be witnesses of Jesus Christ is to do what he asks us in Matthew 25: “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Mt 25:40).
Pope Saint Paul VI once wrote, “Modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses.” (Evangelii Nuntiandi, no. 41). So, let exercise one of the Corporal Works of Mercy as a way to be such witnesses.
God tells the prophet, “Cry out full-throated and unsparingly, lift up your voice like a trumpet blast; proclaim to my people their transgression” (Isaiah 58:1). This is in response to the confusion of the people who were fasting and wondering why God was not answering their prayers. God was very clear, “Is this not, rather, the fast that I choose…. Is it not sharing your bread with the hungry?” (Isaiah 58:6).
After a long day of preaching, Jesus was aware that the folks were hungry. The apostles were ready simply to dismiss the crowds to fend for themselves. All those people were, after all, able-bodied. They could care for themselves. And besides, the apostles had little themselves to share. Jesus does not let this opportunity go by unchallenged. With what little they have they are to feed the hungry.
All four gospels record this event, this miracle of the loaves and fishes. Now clearly, we have come to see this as a prelude to the Eucharist, but at its most basic level, Jesus was feeding the hungry and teaching his followers to do the same.
It is very easy for us to become accustomed to hunger in the world, even in our own backyard. The great story of the rich man (Dives) and Lazarus (Luke 16:18-31) is a warning of behavior we should avoid. If we are blinded to those around us who are hungry, it shall not go well with us.
The best lesson comes from the story of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:14-32). When the son saw that he might perish from hunger, he returned to this Father ready to become a slave. He was not allowed to do so. Rather, he was loved as the returned son. We must be looking for those who are hungry so that we might serve them as beloved sons and daughters of God, as Christ himself set before us.
Pope Saint John Paul II, in his encyclical Dives in misericordia (#113) laments the condition of hunger in the world: “side by side with wealthy and surfeited people and societies, living in plenty and ruled by consumerism and pleasure, the same human family contains individuals and groups that are suffering from hunger…. This fact is universally known.” But what is more, our act of love toward others is mutually beneficial. The sainted pope continues: “An act of merciful love is only really such when we are deeply convinced at the moment that we perform it that we are at the same time receiving mercy from the people who are accepting it from us” (#143).
My brothers and sisters, to be a witness of Jesus Christ means we need his sight, the sight of the Prodigal Father. May we notice how often we may avert our eyes so that we do not see. See how comfortable a practice that can become. Perhaps, it is that we only have a few loaves and fishes. We should not give into the tendency to shrug our shoulders at the little we have. We are only asked to do what we can.
So, for this week’s challenge, seek out an opportunity to feed the hungry in any way you are able to do so. Even better, try to engage someone else in this ministry with you. Be Jesus and serve Jesus.
Until next week, may God Bless you.
I am sincerely yours in Christ,
+ Earl Boyea
Bishop of Lansing
P.S. Below is a video version of this week's Be My Witnesses. Please do share with family and friends. Thank you. God bless you.