In A.D. 29, with five loaves Christ’s disciples were reminded
of the feeding of five-thousand; seven loaves, the four-thousand, and how many
baskets of leftovers they took up (Mt 16:9-10; Mk 8:1-21). This shows that nothing is impossible with
God. Gifts of feeding though could take
many forms. A Russian businessman and
politician Roman Abramovich (b. 1966) said, “But charity is a very complicated
thing. It’s important to find an area
where you can really help and you can feel the results. Charity is not like feeding pigeons in the
square. It is a process that requires
professional management.” Unlike Jesus’
miracles the task of feeding thousands is great. In our churches there will have to be much planning
and organization to accomplish such feats.
Chores of People
People have to do a variety of chores to live
effectively. Gisele Bündchen (b. 1980), a
Brazilian fashion model, and actress wrote, “I’m not a potato sack; I’ve never
sat on my couch. If I’m home, I’m
cleaning, feeding my dogs, doing stuff.
Life is too precious to waste time.”
But some feel they have to keep busy to accomplish their tasks. There are corporations promoting themselves
to consumers as accomplishing tasks effectively. A political activist and attorney Ralph Nader
(b. 1934) wrote, “For almost seventy years the life insurance industry has been
a smug sacred cow feeding the public a steady line of sacred bull.” Nader was rather skeptical about the promises
these companies made to their clients. They
might be selling benefits that aren’t exactly true.
It could all be about the environment where we work. Some say we must select the right standards
to meet our growing demands of consumption.
An author Napoleon Hill (1883–1970)
said, “We begin to see, therefore, the importance of selecting our environment
is the mental feeding ground out of which the food that goes into our mind is
extracted.” In having great expectations
these may lead to wise choices.
Alternatively when bad ones are made they are counterproductive.
Giving & Achieving
Yet, they are those who believe what people put into their
work they get back in return. It’s therefore
necessary to plant the right seeds in the ground. Thomas Szasz (1920–2012), an academic psychiatrist and psychoanalyst wrote,
“The proverb warns that ‘You should not bite the hand that feeds you from
feeding yourself.’” Concerned with oneself
is necessary to think about feeding others, especially the poor and destitute.
A social activist and Catholic convert Dorothy Day (1897–1980) said, “Together
with the Works of Mercy, feeding, clothing and sheltering our brothers, we must
indoctrinate.” Works of mercy must be
the means to an end, in letting people know that Christ is the answer. By living to do the work of Jesus Christ we’ll
be greatly blessed.
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