A Clean Plate

A child of parents who came of age during the Great Depression, I am a member of the “clean plate club.” My grandchildren, on the other hand, eat until they’ve had enough, then leave the rest. While I may chide them for that, I must admit that perhaps they are the wiser. (I’ll leave discussion of the contingencies of dessert for another time.)

In a sense, my grandchildren are like those landowners instructed by God to leave the leftovers in field, vineyard and orchard to be gathered by those who are in need.

We may debate whether those in need should receive from the leftovers or from among the first fruits, or that the whole economic system should be reformed to provide a more equitable distribution of wealth among all people. The mandate of faith remains that we share what we have been given with those who need it. We are all recipients of God’s gracious goodness. May a clean plate mean that all are satisfied.

Strengthen us in our giving and our sharing, O God, that all may be fed. Amen. — LDK