What does ordinary hunger stir within us? Do we know the unpleasant feeling in the stomach, the exhaustion hunger causes, or what it is like to be unable to sleep because we are hungry?
Today’s Gospel once again shows us Jesus’ immense love for humanity. He receives the news of the death of John the Baptist with sorrow. He then withdraws to a deserted place to be alone. Yet even there, crowds find Him, bringing their sick to Him in faith. When Jesus sees them, He is moved with compassion and begins to heal the sick they have brought. He does not want to send the crowds away; instead, He gives them bread, which foreshadows the true bread offered each day on the altars of the world. He alone can completely satisfy the human heart. Yet it is said that “God has human hands,” meaning that He relies on people through whom He can act here on earth.
St. John the Almsgiver, Patriarch, writes about a very religious baker. He attended church and prayed, but he was miserly. What kind of faith was that? One day, he was baking bread and was in a great hurry. A beggar came and asked him for alms. The baker would not even listen to him.
“Leave me alone! Can’t you see that I’m in a hurry? Get out of my sight!”
When the beggar did not leave, the baker threw at him a loaf of bread that he had just taken out of the oven. The beggar picked it up and said, “May God reward you!” Then he went away.
That night, the miserly baker had a dream. He stood before God’s judgment seat. He saw all the evil he had committed in his life being placed on one side of a scale. The scale sank so low that it seemed it would fall all the way into hell. But then an angel came and placed the loaf of bread on the other side. The miser saw how that single loaf restored the balance until the two sides were almost level.
When he awoke, he thought, “How highly God valued my single loaf of bread, which the beggar received!” From then on, his distorted religiosity was transformed into genuine love for people with low incomes.
Beloved brothers and sisters, the miraculous feeding of the crowd should prompt us to reflect on what we use to nourish the people around us. Is it the true Word of God, or is it foolish and often meaningless talk? Truly nourishing our brothers and sisters with God’s Word always goes hand in hand with works of mercy.
This does not mean only feeding the hungry, but also instructing others, offering advice, comforting them, and strengthening them. These are works of spiritual mercy, as are forgiveness and the patient endurance of difficulties. There are also corporal works of mercy. Among them is giving alms to the poor, which is a powerful witness to Christian love. These deeds are pleasing to God and become a source of grace for us.
We will never suffer loss by giving ourselves for our brothers and sisters. God will always multiply our efforts and everything we offer.
A certain story tells of a bamboo plant growing in a forest. It longed to grow as tall as possible so that it could draw nearer to God and fulfill His will. It eventually became the tallest bamboo in the forest.
One day, God spoke to it.
“Do you want to fulfill My will?” God asked.
“I do,” the bamboo replied.
God said, “You have grown into a beautiful bamboo, the tallest of all. But if I am to use you, I must cut you down.”
The bamboo was shocked. It said that being cut down would mean its death and begged God to do anything but that. Yet God insisted. He explained that unless He cut it down, He would not be able to use it. After a long conversation, the bamboo sadly consented, and so God cut it down.
As soon as He had done so, God spoke to the bamboo again: “If I am to continue using you, I must split you in two.”
Once again, the bamboo became sad and begged God to allow it to serve Him in some other way. But God insisted, saying, “If I do not split you, I will not be able to use you.”
At last, the bamboo consented to this as well. God split it and then said, “The last thing I ask of you is your heart. If I am to use you, I need your heart.”
The bamboo could find no words; it simply nodded. God took its heart. The bamboo then became a channel that carried life-giving water to a small village.
Let us take care that we do not become merely lifeless proclaimers of God’s mysteries. Rather, let us become those who nourish everyone who comes to us hungering for God.
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