Back in
2006, a number of teams were climbing Mount Everest. It cost months of
preparation and thousands of dollars. A man named David Sharp could go no
further. Incapacitated, he was left on the side of the path. Over 40 climbers
did not stop to help. It resulted in his death. A few days later, a 50 year old
climber, Lincoln Hall, was left for dead by his team and passed by many other
climbers. But Dan Mazur’s team stopped. They brought him down – which cost them
their chance to climb Mt Everest. They saw someone in need, and did not pass by
This is something we
tried to teach our teens and young adults on our Midnight Run. Last Wednesday,
we visited with our homeless friends. Usually people walk right past them. Last
Wednesday, we did not. Your gifts of food, clothing and toiletries were
gratefully received. You would have been
very proud of our teens and young adults. They treated our homeless brother and
sisters with compassion.
Margaret
Meade – Anthropologist – was asked – what is the first sign of civilization? Is
it a clay pot, a fishing hook or a grinding stone – “a healed femur (thigh bone)” It
means that someone cared. It means that someone who was injured was taken care
of, was allowed to heal.
I wonder what she would say about the actions of Planned Parenthood? Is this a mark of civilization? – is this how we should care for our most vulnerable ones - our innocent babies? By the distribution
of their body parts for money?
The
multiplication of loaves and fish is remarkable on many levels:
-
It
is the only miracle found in all four gospels.
-
It
is a sign of the Lord’s love (Mt 25 when I was hungry, you gave me food)
-
It
shows what can be done if someone shares – boy with 5 loaves & 2 fish is
generous. The Lord can take it and multiply it.
-
It
teaches us about the power of Jesus – the Son of God who can create and bring
new life.
-
It
points to what we are doing today – all around the world the Bread is being
multiplied and Jesus continues to feed his people in the Eucharist – so that we
might live forever.
Jesus fed his people spiritually and physically. Might the same be said of us!
J
