Come Into The Word with Sarah Christmyer | Bible Study | Lectio Divina | Journals | Retreat

  • About
  • Blog
    • Scripture Reflection
    • Prayer & Lectio Divina
    • Bible Reading & Study
    • Holidays and Holy Days
    • Discipleship
    • Women of the Bible
  • Resources
    • New Release
    • Books & Journals
    • Bible Studies
    • How-tos & Reading Plans
  • Speaking
    • Speaking Topics
    • Schedule
    • Testimonials
    • Reviews & Interviews
    • Past Events
  • Contact

LIVE MERCY THIS LENT (2): Nourish the Needy

February 19, 2016 By Sarah Christmyer Leave a Comment

I never knew what was wrong with Mr. Cox, only that he was old and couldn’t feed himself. Each time I walked into the dining room in my pink and white Candy Striper uniform, he’d be sitting in his wheelchair with a tray across his lap and a bib around his neck, staring at his food.

“Hello, Mr. Cox, how are you today?” I’d ask, not waiting for an answer. “Are you hungry? Look what we have for dinner!” I’d use a spoon to part his lips and give him a little soft cereal, then use the spoon to clean it from his chin. Sometimes he would bite the spoon and fight me for it. I used to wonder if this was his way of communicating; of saying, “Hey, Sarah—I see you too. What have you been up to?”

I only volunteered at the nursing home on Thursdays, my sophomore year of high school. I remember watching the aides who worked full-time, noticing how they patiently moved from one person to the next, making sure they ate, cleaning up spills, making cheerful small talk. Today, as I think about the first two corporal works of mercy, it strikes me: this is feeding the hungry and giving drink to the thirsty on a level I never considered before.

I must admit, I struggle with these two commands. I have never known hunger that I didn’t have the means to satisfy. I have never not had something to feed my children. I don’t personally know anyone who suffers badly from hunger or thirst (or they do a good job of hiding it!). We give money to the poor, and I sometimes make casseroles to send to shut-ins or a shelter. But that is at a distance. Am I doing enough?

The list of good deeds that we know as the corporal works of mercy comes from Matthew 25, where Jesus says that on the Day of Judgment, he will separate people as a shepherd separates sheep from goats: the “sheep”—those who fed and gave drink to and clothed and sheltered and visited and welcomed the Lord as they found him in the needy—inherit the heavenly kingdom. The “goats”—those who failed to do those things—are damned.

Clearly, it’s of vital importance that our eyes are open to the poor and needy, that we recognize Jesus in them and reach out to help. St. John wrote, in 1 John 3:17-18. “But if any one has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth.”

Surrounded as I am by people whose hunger and thirst is more spiritual than physical, I want to say that responding to their need, along with my “distance giving,” is enough. But is it?

All four Gospels tell of the time Jesus spent a whole day teaching and healing people, and when it got late and time to eat, the apostles wanted to send the crowd away. But “you give them something to eat,” said the Lord. And after blessing the little food they had and breaking the loaves, Jesus gave the food to the disciples to distribute by hand. Surely there’s a lesson here about the way we should feed the hungry around us. Not just at a distance (however necessary that may often be)—but in person, with our hands. By volunteering at a shelter. Inviting someone to share a meal. Taking food in to a house when someone’s shut in instead of sending it or leaving it at the door. Offering to cook and clean up. Helping to feed the Mr. Coxes in our midst.

The world is full of people who are openly hungry. By all means, let those who have resources, share so they can meet their needs (see Luke 3:11). But let us not forget those who are nearby but hidden away, that we might serve love with the food that we give.

Isaiah wrote to the people of his day,

if you pour yourself out for the hungry
    and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
then shall your light rise in the darkness
    and your gloom be as the noonday.
And the Lord will guide you continually,
    and satisfy your desire with good things. (Isa 58:10-11)

“Pour yourself out.” That’s something more than pulling out a wallet.

God of mercy, open my eyes to the hungry around me. Show me the need and help me to “give them something to eat” with my hands, so I can better love in deed and truth.

NOW ASK YOURSELF:

  • When have I been hungry or thirsty? Who helped me in a way that I felt loved?
  • Who are the hungry and thirsty in my neighborhood? At work? In my town?
  • What is one thing I can do this week to “pour myself out” for someone nearby, who hungers or thirsts?

If you’d like to share something you learn or an experience you have, I’d love to hear.

© 2016 Sarah Christmyer.

Filed Under: Scripture Reflection Tagged With: Lent, Lent/Easter, Mercy

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 characters available

Sarah Christmyer writes and speaks about Scripture and the Catholic faith with the goal of helping people meet Jesus in his Word. “The Bible isn’t just a book about God or instructions for a good life; it’s a place to meet God and be changed by him,” she says. Her love of Scripture fuels her writing of Bible studies and related books; her teaching of Philadelphia seminarians; her speaking at conferences and retreats; and writing for blogs such as this one. “Come Into the Word” draws people into the Bible and encourages and equips them to explore it on their own.

Subscribe Here

Sign up to receive new posts and news via email. (Add sarah@comeintotheword.com to your address book to make sure mail arrives in your inbox!)

Search Come Into The Word

Categories

Recent Posts

  • TRUST IN GOD; HE’S GOT YOUR BACK
  • FINDING JOY AT CHRISTMAS
  • FOCUSING ON THE CHRIST CHILD with the O Antiphons
  • THANKSGIVING PSALMS: Drowning grief in gratitude
  • YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU: How to fill your heavenly “handbag”
  • RETURNING TO GOD…AND PRAYERS FOR UKRAINE

Archives

Recommended

  • Integrated Catholic Life – Catholic blogs and resources
  • Lux App and Lux University – online faith hub for women
  • Peter Kreeft – featured writings and audio
  • The Sacred Page (Michael Barber, John Bergsma, Brant Pitre, John Kincaid) – blog
  • Scripture Speaks (Gayle Somers) – commentary on the Mass readings
  • Speaking of Scripture (Mary Healy, Daniel Keating, Peter Williamson, et al) – blog
  • Women in the New Evangelization (WINE) – women’s ministry, book club, blog

 

We engage in affiliate marketing whereby we receive funds through clicks to our affiliate program through this website. This disclosure is intended to comply with the US Federal Trade Commission Rules on marketing and advertising, as well as any other legal requirements which may apply.

 

Let’s Connect

mailfacebook instagram pinterest

Subscribe Here

Sign up to receive new posts and news via email. (Add sarah@comeintotheword.com to your address book to make sure mail arrives in your inbox!)

MENU

  • About
  • Blog
  • Resources
  • Speaking
  • Contact
  • Home

Copyright © 2023 Come into the Word LLC | Site designed by Cynthia Oswald

  • About
  • Blog
    △
    • Scripture Reflection
    • Prayer & Lectio Divina
    • Bible Reading & Study
    • Holidays and Holy Days
    • Discipleship
    • Women of the Bible
  • Resources
    △
    • New Release
    • Books & Journals
    • Bible Studies
    • How-tos & Reading Plans
  • Speaking
    △
    • Speaking Topics
    • Schedule
    • Testimonials
    • Reviews & Interviews
    • Past Events
  • Contact