“My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry”
– Matthew 15:32
These words manifest a practical way Jesus showed compassion throughout his public life and moves me to reflect on how many people in our world go to bed hungry every night. About 690 million people globally are undernourished even though there is enough food produced in the world to feed everyone on the planet. An estimated 14 million children under five suffer from malnutrition. Half the world lives on less than $2.50 a day. These are staggering statistics.
Pope Francis repeatedly reminds us that everyone is our neighbor. Xaverian Brother Bill Griffin, now ministering in Haiti, recently said that the folks associated with the school he is serving were suffering from severe hunger. This presented an opportunity to care for our neighbors in Haiti. The Brothers at Ryken House in Louisville, and Louisville Xaverian Associates responded to this food crisis by donating $3,000.00 to Brother Bill, helping provide rice, pasta, dried beans, cooking oil, cans of salmon, bar soap, and COVID-19 masks to at least 100 families. Since the people in Haiti are communitarian and not individualistic, Bill believes that even more people were recipients of the food. Sister Simone Campbell, Director of NETWORK, encourages us to pray and act:
“Let your heart be broken open by the anguish of our time. Come together in community and listen for the still small voice that can give you direction. Trust those with whom you travel to share your commitment. Finally, act on what you hear. You do not have to do it all; you only have to do your part. Break out of the individualism of our time.”
Gracious God, move me to find a way to move compassion to action as I prepare for the birth of Jesus.
Amen.
Brother Cornelius Hubbuch
To view the full Advent 2020 booklet, click here.
To download an online copy of the full booklet to your computer, click here.