Feed Them Yourselves

Gospel: Luke 6: 20-26

Jesus presents in stark contrast the life and fate of the rich and poor.  For the rich, they have made earth their heaven and deprived the vast multitudes of much happiness here.  But in the kingdom of God, their fate will be much different.  By contrast, the poor of this earth who have suffered the exploitation of the rich will find relief in God's kingdom.  

One might well ask why God does not provide this justice here on earth.  We forget that God entrusted the earth to our care, and God, unlike us, is faithful to the bargains he negotiates.  So the question is really one for us: why don't we provide justice for all on this earth? Why are we so miserly in caring for the poor and ever ready to give more and more to the rich?  

When the vast crowds followed Jesus into a deserted place and lacked food, the disciples asked Jesus to feed them, but he replied: Feed them yourselves.  We can ask God to feed the poor, but we will get the same answer: feed them yourselves.  It is our job given to us by God, and we do not do so.  We have the means at our disposal, but we continue to persist in this injustice.  Where our treasure is, there is our heart...