Hunger
If you are hungry, you will go to where there is food.
When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified. But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going. The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus. When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?” Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.” - John 6:16-27
Once you give people food, word spreads. And it spreads quickly.
When Jesus fed the five thousand who had been with him on the mount, he let them know he had food. So, it was only natural that the word would spread that he could feed the hungry.
They followed him to Capernaum, without even understanding how he got there. And Jesus knew they followed him because he had fed the people.
John points out that they were hungry for more than food, and that spiritual nourishment is what Jesus wanted to give them. But we cannot ignore the physical hunger.
That is what motivates people to act.
No matter what hours our pantries are open, there will be some who need food when we are closed. Do we just tell them we will get to them tomorrow or Monday?
Jesus taught us to have compassion as he did for those who came to him seeking help. So, when we get a call, we try to find a way to help.
When Jesus told them to work for food that does not perish, food that endures, he was talking to us.
We should show people how we are filled with spiritual food by working at finding ways to solve the physical hunger problem in our midst.
We can do this. If we know a neighbor who is alone, ill, aged, struggling, why not offer them some food?
When Jesus saw the people and knew they were hungry, he fed them.
Maybe we need to get out and see the people ourselves to be motivated to help.
There is an organization that is working with restaurants to provide hot meals for pick up or delivery, free of charge to those who are hungry. We are looking to work with them to reach the unreachable, so the hunger that is not addressed can be addressed.
And we are looking to make the work of getting food to people who need it something anyone can do, so we can all be like Jesus, someone people can come to when they are hungry.
Stay tuned.
More to come...