Feed Them!

Gospel: Matthew 14: 13-21

In various places in the Gospels the writers note how Jesus had compassion on the crowds.  In today's Gospel portion we see that mentioned, and in response to that sense of compassion Jesus sets about to heal the sick.  Jesus will later send out his disciples to do this healing and to cultivate that compassion.  Furthermore in this passage, Jesus and the disciples recognize that the masses are hungry and need to be fed.

In response to that need, Jesus tells the disciples to feed the crowd.  Willing to do so they muster what they have, but it is far less than what is needed.  So, Jesus intervenes to provide in abundance for the needs of the people.  The disciples have acquired that compassion of Jesus.  They want to help, and they sought his help when their meager resources were not enough to meet the need.  The disciples will continue this mission of feeding the hungry.

In our day we have a demonic false Christianity that scorns compassion, rejoices when millions lose access to the healing of health care, and revels in the bonfire of food aid for refugees deliberately set ablaze.  Today is the day to reject this false Christianity, to commit to the compassion of the Lord Jesus, and like the first disciples, to be moved by that compassion to heal and feed others in our communities throughout the world.