Looking up, Jesus saw the crowds approaching and said to Philip, ‘Where can we buy some bread for these people to eat?’ He only said this to test Philip; he himself knew exactly what he was going to do.
Food!
Have you ever eaten at a Church potluck. It doesn’t matter what faith. The cooks of the Lutheran, Catholic or other Church put their best dishes on the table. In Tulsa a smaller church near me feeds the homeless by making homemade meatloaf from 50 or 60 homes and others bring the side. That church fed 100 people last week. My church has a large kitchen and feeds the homeless. They buy the food and cook for their day to cook. I don’t think the churches coordinate but there always seem to be plenty of food.
What happens when people eat? They share their stories and spread the Gospel by their lives. The Gospel is spread by food. Jesus did it by feeding the 5000 in John Chapter 6. There are other side benefits. Community is built and healing occurs. Someone might share how a recent sermon changed them or made them realize that they were heading down the wrong path.
If you didn’t go to the meal, then you missed the healing. Jesus said that when you eat food that you will get hungry again. He also said that He had spiritual food and drink. If you don’t go to Mass, you miss the food and the healing.
There is one additional benefit and that is the relationships you make. The most important is your relationship with Jesus Christ. People will fail you but Jesus’ wont. Like all relationships it has to be constantly fed.
Now there is a minor downside. His (Gamaliel) advice was accepted; and they had the apostles called in, gave orders for them to be flogged, warned them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. And so they left the presence of the Sanhedrin glad to have had the honour of suffering humiliation for the sake of the name. I work in a Deli and there are times I cut, burn or bruise myself. My deli puts out a good product even with the imperfections of life. When I cook at home, sometimes the recipe doesn’t work out. Just like when we sin, we try again by going to Confession. The process is not perfect, but it is an ongoing process.
Human food and spiritual food are important for life. The benefits are many including the spreading of the Gospel. The end results are a happier life and substantial relationships.
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
PS: Please Pray for the soul of our beloved Pontiff, Pope Francis and for his successor.Please Pray for Cancer victims and their caregivers. Pray for the conversion of Russia and the salvation of the Ukrainian and Russian people and their soldiers. Pray for the Holy Land. Pray for peace! The impossible could happen. Never deny God.
