Priority for the Poor

Gospel: Luke 6: 1-5

In the Law a certain portion of crops were set aside for the poor so that they may have adequate food.  The Law did not stipulate when the poor may access this food; thus, even on the Sabbath the poor could find food and pick it if needed.  The disciples themselves became poor in giving up everything to follow the Lord Jesus, and so in their hunger they accessed the food of the poor to meet their need in hunger.  This takes priority over the Sabbath law on work.

Jesus references the story of David who found himself in a place of dire need.  In that story, David accesses the showbread of the Temple, something only accessible by the priests, and he avails himself of this bread to feed himself and his starving men.   Here again, the priority of the hungry and poor takes priority over the laws of the Temple.

How many people go hungry spiritually because they are denied and deprived of the Eucharist? Does their hunger and need not take priority over the arbitrary laws we have set up regarding its access? How many people go hungry physically because we are more about the business of secondary matters than care for the poor? Today we might reflect on how we individually and in our communities can provide greater access to both spiritual and physical food to those hungry in spirit and body in our world.