Christ Among Us
“If you cannot find Christ in the beggar at the church door, you will not find Him in the chalice.”
Recently, while reflecting on the corporal work of mercy, to feed the hungry, this profound quote by St. John Chrysostom really touched me. Yes, it is true in our lives that we sometimes walk by the poor as they stand on our street corners, or church steps or at the traffic lights, holding signs made of cardboard, begging for money or food handout. Often, we feel their presence is an intrusion into our space and we would prefer if they would get lost, move on, not bother us by pricking our conscience. One can easily protest, “Surely, they can get help from social agencies, soup kitchens, church programs, from others” …. not from me. The key concept in the above quote is “finding Christ.” Where do I find Christ? In the hungry? In the Eucharist?
Tied into this quote is today’s Gospel story of Jesus’ hunger in the desert, “He fasted 40 days and nights and afterwards was hungry (famished)” Matt. 4:1 ff. Truly an understatement! Food, a basic physical need, became an opportunity for Jesus’ first temptation namely, to turn stones into bread; to be a miracle worker who impresses others by feats of power. Despite his human need, Jesus rejected this challenge. Indeed, food is essential for physical sustenance but more importantly, the feeding of one’s whole self with “food from the mouth of God,” which nourishes one’s spiritual encounter with God, is paramount. In fact, we hunger for this WORD, this word of love, compassion, saving, forgiveness.
Over the last 5 years, I have been involved in two “feeding” programs, one for migrant workers in California and the other during the winter months for the homeless and marginalized poor in Toronto. Having seen personally the truly hungry, the deprivation and also the understandable, but also shocking, is the grabbing, the craving for food and resulting hoarding, my comprehension of hunger has increased. The needs seem never-ending and almost insurmountable.
As Pope Francis continuously points out, Jesus wants us to touch human misery, to touch the suffering flesh of others; to enter the reality of other peoples’ lives and know the power of tenderness. We cannot preach the gospel message to the famished. First, we need to meet their physical need and then they will be open to the message of God’s love. So, what can I, what can you do? For one, we cannot continue to stand by when food is thrown away while people are starving. We could make it a good Lenten practice to not waste any food. During Lent, could we occasionally and joyfully, do without, modeling Christ who emptied himself for us? Could we allow all who suffer to encounter us and count on us to give them our time in their need?
It is easy to dismiss taking on this corporal work of mercy because it is inconvenient and makes us uncomfortable, but this is what encountering the suffering Christ in the poor is all about. As Precious Blood Sisters this is what we are called to do. Will you join me in feeding the hungry during this Lent?
- Sr. Gabriel Mary Riddle, CPS