It isn't often that I see the Lord's hand at work so clearly through what I try to do in this weekly column. Sometimes it feels like a weakly column. Today I was searching and pondering how to make the connections in this next article when I received feedback on last week's reflection:
"This column was truly one of your best I've been trying to help young people, in my role as chaplain, to come to understand that seeing isn't always believing. You have given voice to this frustration and as you so nicely express: 'Our children and our youth, in particular, look to us for signs of faith; that we really believe! They need to see us still looking, gazing through our darkness.' Fantastic column, Ken. I hope you don't mind if I use it extensively in my work this school year. It is, indeed, bread that will help me on my journey." Tom Saretsky (Columnist).
And like Tom, we need to share that bread of life which the Lord gives us. We need to help our fellow travellers on the journey of life.
In his homily "Open mind, open heart" Fr. Brendan McGuire gives us a startling statistic: 13% of the people in the world (and 25% in his county) do not know where their next meal will come from.
From this reflection he directs us to spiritual nourishment where the statistics are much worse. Many are starving and malnourished spiritually. For example, during the summer holidays, he points out, many people and their children "stop coming to the table".
"I don't understand it. I really don't," McGuire says. They say, "I'm not going to eat tonight; I ate last week!" This is the table we need to invite people to. We need spiritual nourishment every day, and this is the prayer we say: 'Give us this day our daily bread', our daily nourishment."
You and I need to invite others to the Lord's Table. It matters not that we have shortcomings, that we are sinners. It is important that we witness and follow the promptings of the Spirit.
"God so loved the world that he gave" (John 3:16). We are a part of that love going out into the world. We are baptised into the family of God, and as sons and heirs we should know something about it!
"Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations I am with you always; yes, to the end of time" (Matthew 28:19-20). Let us go to those who are spiritually hungry and let us be inviting hosts.
We have the power to change the spiritual imbalance in our world by our actions, McGuire says. By our charity, by our invitations and by our actions we can be the living Body of Christ in this world.
