Hosting a Party Anytime Soon?

A sign of hospitality is to offer guests something to eat. So we shop for the finest ingredients and wines for a feast to be enjoyed by all invited guests. As we enter the grocery store we are asked by a stranger whether we have any spare change. If we do acknowledge this person, we may say, “Catch me on my way out!” actually hoping that by that time he will have left. Are we not at times just as reluctant as the disciples about parting with our money for the sake of a stranger’s well-being?

We have been fed with the bread of life in Christ, who fed 5,000 and still had more to share, more to give. All were fed by his word to strengthen their spirits and by the food gathered which strengthened their bodies so as to be able to continue following Jesus. Might we spare some change to support the local food bank, breakfast programs, community gardens, Canadian Foodgrains Bank or to host a soup supper? When shopping for food, buy that voucher, just in case upon leaving someone asks you for some spare change.

Loving God, help us to be compassionate. Amen. — RC