There are two things I can recall as being very inappropriate as I was growing up first was dan whites Twinkie defense the second was “Gay Cancer”. Neither made sense to me. The first meant that every kid I knew could have killed their parents and gotten away with it, and the second just didn’t make sense because cancer does not work that way! Of course, now we know it as AIDS and it is neither gay nor is it cancer, but it is something we have all been living with for too long.
In the summer of 81 I was 19 I had just finished my year in catholic seminary. I realized I was Gay and started my coming out process. It was in May of that year that the NY Native first reported on cases that would become known as AIDS. I have been living with AIDS all my adult life.
I was living n Boston in 1987 when the AIDS Memorial Quilt was first Displayed there. I had just returned from Detroit to visit some friends when I had Learned a bartender, friend and mentor, named norm had passed from complications due to HIV. (Nobody dies from AIDS)
I was sad, I did not get to say goodbye or update one of my mentors on how my life was going. I was sitting with a group of my friends after walking around the esplanade for a few hours when they asked if I had seen the panel from Detroit.
I had seen a few from home, one of someone I knew. But the one they were talking about was Norms’. It was made from all his ties he was famous for wearing. I broke down. I couldn’t see him when I went to visit, so he came to see me.
I eventually moved to San Francisco where I would walk by the names project storefront. I had a friend who could often be found inside organizing artifacts, repairing quilts as needed or sewing the panels together. It was hard to walk by that window as we would go to the Castro to try to live our lives amidst the grief.
For several of our Past synods, the gathering of all the UCC churches, I was responsible for the quilt display and organizing HIV testing as well as having health info available to our clergy and lay leaders.
We would have 10-12 panels, and we would try to make them relevant to our host community. Churches, Gay men’s Choruses, AIDS organizations, local clubs or bars. We would hunt down what we felt would be relevant and there are so many to choose from.
People would come and walk and ponder and cry or laugh. Stories were shared. Every now and again I would hear is this still a thing? To which I would provide education. Or someone would ask if I can still make one and how do I go about it. To which the answer is Yes. I had one person come up and say we found a panel in our church closet what should I do.
The AIDS memorial Quilt is a living testament to all those friends, lovers, family members and co-workers we lost and still are losing. The average is 100 new panels a month are sent in. It is the world’s largest folk art project. These panels are a celebration of life and love. They are sacred artifacts. Please take time to honor the love and lives shared here. If you have any questions, after service I will be happy to stick around. Thank you.
Today is
creation Sunday …In today’s The Gospel Jesus Calls the leaders hypocrites…Bob
has called our conference out as being hypocrites.At the annual Gathering eucharist, while
focusing on care for the earth we used plastic cups with juice and a wafer
sealed on top.Sometimes it is hard to
do our due diligence when it comes to creation.
The season
of creation used to follow a set Pattern for years it was land, ocean, forest,
air and blessings of the animals.Over
the three year cycle the names of the Sundays changed but the themes were
basically the same. It May have been wilderness, water, mountain you get the
idea but what has any of that to do with Jesus challenging the leaders of the
church?
“Jesus is challenging them
as to how their traditions contribute to them fulfilling their mission. And I
think this is just where this week’s sermon might bring this odd passage to
bear on our shared life. I mean, maybe we don’t seem at first blush quite as
fussy about tradition as Jesus’ opponents did, but what if you were to suggest
tinkering with some of our own traditions? Perhaps changing worship in order to
make worship more understandable and accessible to a younger generation? Or
what if you were to drop the lectionary in favor of moving through the
narrative of the Bible? Or what if you were to cancel all committees in favor
of a more nimble way of governing the congregation? Or what if you were to
suggest make the sanctuary space more flexible so you could offer it to some
community groups? Or what if each fourth Sunday folks didn’t come to church at
all but rather were engaged in community service throughout your county? Or
what if…?
Youget the idea. We each have traditions that
are more than traditions. They are markers of what has been accepted as right
and wrong and thereby serve to lend us a sense of stability. (Never mind that
our traditions do in fact change over time – what’s important is that they
appear unchanging in the moment!) This passage serves both to relativize our
traditions – should we really hold them sacred? – while also pushing us to the
far more important concern of the law to help us care for each other. ”[i]
The broader context into
which this interchange between Jesus and the pharisees occurs presents an
interesting backdrop. On the one hand, there are two generous feeding of the
hungry multitudes (6;30-44; 8:1-10), and an extravagant summary of Jesus’ healing
s in and around Gennesaret (6:53-56). They pose a sharp contrast to
the restrictive issue of washing the hands before eating. On the other hand,
the interchange of the Pharisees is followed by the stories of the persistent
faith of the Gentile woman of Syrophoenician origin, who asks only for the
crumbsfrom the table and her daughter
is healed. And the restoration of hearing and speech to the deaf man living in
the gentile area called Decapolis (7:24-37). It is as if Jesus’ critique of
Kosher laws (“thus he declared all foods clean,” 7:19) is then documented by
the healings of these non-Jewish people.”[ii]
It is not what we put in
our bodies but what comes out of our hearts and lips. Proclaiming that the kingdom
of God belonged only to the Jewish people who followed only certain rules and
regulation as opposed to offering peace, healing, food, welcome, to those
beyond their borders was what was wrong. You can keep your traditions as long
as they are not interfering with the work of Gods kindom here on earth.
Letting people know they
are loved welcomed and cared for isn’t always easy. Sometimes it contradicts
our own “traditions.” We are called as Christians to grow, study , learn…as a
result we have ONA churches. “Open and Affirming (ONA) is the United Church of
Christ's (UCC) designation for congregations, campus ministries, and other
bodies in the UCC which make a public covenant of welcome into their full life
and ministry to persons of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and
gender expressions.”[iii]
We have immigrant
welcoming churches. “In a world becoming increasingly globalized, more people
are leaving their homelands to seek better lives and opportunities in new
countries. Their reasons for leaving are diverse and complex: economic
necessity, war, or persecution. The U.S. has long been a nation of immigrants,
and we have consistently been conflicted about this. We gratefully welcome
immigrants and their contributions, and we exclude them, discriminate against
them and, at times, inflict grave harm upon them.
As Christians, we are
called to love our neighbors. The Bible is unambiguous in calling us to welcome
aliens and strangers in our land, and to love them as we love ourselves. In
these times, let us listen to the voice of the still-speaking God. We will learn
how to respond to these new sisters and brothers residing among us.”[iv]
We are an earth Justice
Denomination…
This video I want to share
maybe 6 year old but just as relevant today
Since we are beginning the season of the season of creation
one can look up climate events happening around the world or just here in
Florida. The climate instate of Florida has a list of events and actions such
as Heat;the 4th Biennial juried art exhibition in
Gainesville, a symposium on flooding adaptation, or a climate leader training
online.[v]
Florida right to clean water actually has a series of events
occurring around the season of creation.
“Celebrate the Season of Creation (September 1st through
October 4th) by learning how the FL Right to Clean Water = GOOD STEWARDSHIP!
September 1st - DAY OF CREATION - Click here to see a
"Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the World Day of Prayer for the
Care of Creation."
In the St Augustine area?September 2nd - Rosary Walk in Saint Augustine.Information can be found here, or email Elyse
at artistelyse@yahoo.com.
In the Fort Myers area?Every Wednesday in September (6th, 13th, 20th, and 27th), you're welcome
to join a Walking Meditation on Bunche Beach from 7:30-8:30am.Click here for the event link on Facebook.
September 7th, 4pm - "Call to Prayer /
Meditation," an online event open to all who wish to be (re-)inspired and
(re-)connected.Click here for the event
link on Facebook.
In the Orlando area?September 10th, 4pm - Season of Creation event, presenting the Right to
Clean & Healthy Waters - an in-person presentation hosted by Broadway
United Methodist Church, 406 E. Amelia St, Orlando.Panelists include Jim Durocher (FL RTCW
initiative), Gabbie Milch (St Johns Riverkeeper), and Dr. Jeff Greenberg
(Indian River Lagoon Roundtable).Feel
free to access and share this flyer!
September 14th, 7pm - "Living Waters: A Call to
Creation Care Stewardship," an online event featuring our guest speaker,
Monsignor Haut.Click here for the event
link on Facebook.Click here to register
for the event!
October 2nd, 7pm - "Healing Waters, Saving Lives: The
time to act is NOW!" -- an online event featuring our guest speaker,
Reverend Dr. Latricia Edwards Scriven, Senior Pastor at Saint Paul's United
Methodist Church.Click here for the
event link on Facebook.Click here to
register for the event!
October 4th - time and title TBD - We will host an event in
celebration of the Feast and Birthday of St Francis of Assisi, closing out the
Season of Creation, hoping that all the faith communities we were able to reach
have been inspired to activate "good works" in support of this
initiative for Creation Care Stewardship.”[vi]
According to blessed tomorrow our food and faith are
connected to our climate as well.
What You Need to Know Food is an important part of how we
express our faith in our daily lives, many worship services, and some religious
holidays. What foods we choose to eat also impacts the climate.
·More fruits and vegetables in our diets are better for our
health and our climate. Higher proportions of plantbased foods are healthier
for us. Agriculture, including meat and dairy production, is one of the top
sources of harmful pollution in the US.
·Local food is
fresher, more nutritious, and travels shorter distances which equates to lower
pollution and healthier, more prosperous communities.
·Reducing food waste is practical, and also reduces
pollution. Less waste = less wasted dollars and less food and packaging sent to
landfills = less methane, among the most potent sources of climate pollution.
·Avoiding prepackaged foods is safer. Plastics are made from
fossil fuels and do not degrade. They can end up in our waterways and show up
in our bodies as microplastics. Packaged food can also contain chemicals
harmful to us.
·Food grown without pesticides keeps our soil, waterways,
and bodies healthy and helps our crops to maintain vital nutrients.
·Climate change is increasing food prices and food
insecurity. Stabilizing our climate will make food more affordable and
accessible, especially for people experiencing poverty. When we lower climate
pollution we restore crop yields, the ability to farm, and the nutritional
value of crops.
·Choosing foods thoughtfully and eating prayerfully connects
us to the Divine, to each other, and to all creation. What and how we eat is an
act of faith.
·What You Need to Do We can all eat more thoughtfully in a
way that aligns with our faith and benefits our health and creation. Focus on
including more delicious and nutritious fruits and vegetables. Share your
healthy habits with neighbors, congregation members, and policymakers.
·Eat the rainbow — more fruits and vegetables. Fill half
your plate with colorful fruits and vegetables, locally grown and organic when
possible. It’s good for you and good for our climate.
·Prioritize plant-based proteins. Choose beans, lentils,
seeds, nuts, plant-based proteins or sustainably grown fish, chicken, eggs, and
turkey when possible. These are excellent sources of nutrition with lower
climate impacts.
·Eliminate food waste. It saves money, diverts food from
landfill, and reduces methane pollution. Eat what you buy, freeze your
leftovers, and compost food scraps to improve the soil of your garden or yard.
·Eat locally and seasonally whenever possible. Not only is
this more delicious, but it’s often more interesting, less expensive, and
reduces pollution versus food that travels farther to your plate.
·Start a community
garden with your congregation. Involve children, youth, and people in your
neighborhood in planting, growing, and harvesting. Use the food in
congregational activities, donate to congregants in need, local food pantries,
and food programs.
·Vote with your dollar by buying foods grown from
sustainable and regenerative farming practices, like organic foods, when
possible. Also, try to avoid fast food and prepackaged foods, which are not
healthy for you or creation.
·Vote for candidates and policies that support sustainable
agriculture, food equity, and food access. Talk to your neighbors and community
about these actions and opportunities.
And so we have a proposal to work with our preschool and
create some raised beds where we can better practice what we preach and engage
our kids in learning how food is grown and how fresh produce tastes much better
and is much better not just for our bodies but for the earth.[vii]
Over the next few weeks, we shall focus on how we can
better care for ourselves and all of God’s creation through this season of
creation.Please feel free to engage,
bring up opportunities in the community and share maybe something you’re doing
to help make a better tomorrow.
Let us pray,
Triune God, Creator of all,
We praise you for your goodness, visible in all the
diversity that you have
created, making us a cosmic family living in a common home.
Through
the Earth you created, we experience love and nourishment,
home and
protection.
We confess that we do not relate to the Earth as a
Mothering gift from
you, our Creator. Our selfishness, greed, neglect, and
abuse have caused
the climate crisis, loss of biodiversity, human suffering
as well as the suf-
fering of all our fellow creatures. We confess that we have
failed to listen
to the groans of the Earth, the groans of all creatures,
and the groans of
the Spirit of hope and justice that lives within us.
May your Creator Spirit help us in our weakness, so that we
may know the
redeeming power of Christ and the hope found in him. May
the groans of
the Spirit birth in us a willingness to serve you
faithfully, so that we may
hear and heal Creation, to hope and act together with her,
so that the
firstfruits of hope may blossom.
Loving and Creator God, we pray that you will make us
sensitive to these
groans and enable us to have the same compassion as that of
Jesus, the
redeeming Lord. Grant us a fresh vision of our relationship
with Earth, and
with one another, as creatures that are made in your image.
In the name of the one who came to proclaim the good news
to all Crea-
[ii]Brueggemann, Walter, and Charles B. Cousar. Texts for
Preaching: A Lectionary Commentary, Based on the NRSV. Louisville, KY:
Westminster/John Knox Press, 1993.,pg. 492
56 Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me,
and I in them. 57 Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the
Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. 58 This is the bread that
came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died.
But the one who eats this bread will live forever.” 59 He said these things
while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.
The Words of Eternal Life
60 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This
teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” 61 But Jesus, being aware that his
disciples were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you? 62
Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before?
63 It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I
have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But among you there are some who do
not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not
believe, and who was the one that would betray him. 65 And he said, “For this
reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the
Father.”
66 Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no
longer went about with him. 67 So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to
go away?” 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the
words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know that you are the
Holy One of God.”[a]
John 6:56-69
The Message
53-58 But Jesus didn’t give an inch. “Only insofar as you
eat and drink flesh and blood, the flesh and blood of the Son of Man, do you
have life within you. The one who brings a hearty appetite to this eating and
drinking has eternal life and will be fit and ready for the Final Day. My flesh
is real food and my blood is real drink. By eating my flesh and drinking my
blood you enter into me and I into you. In the same way that the fully alive
Father sent me here and I live because of him, so the one who makes a meal of
me lives because of me. This is the Bread from heaven. Your ancestors ate bread
and later died. Whoever eats this Bread will live always.”
59 He said these things while teaching in the meeting
place in Capernaum.
Oh Lord this reading is hard…we have been talking about
this for weeks and yet Jesus goes on speaking about the bread of life, about
him being the bread of life and how we must consume that bread and drink his
blood. Ugh! Does he have to be so graphic? Why is this so
hard to hear? Why do his own followers walk away?
One commentator believes we need to move away from the
metaphor...
“In Jewish culture, the idea of eating meat with blood
was taboo. In fact, it was a prohibition given to humanity in general after the
flood in Genesis 9: 4. The Law repeats this prohibition to the people of Israel
(Lv 17:11, 14; 19:26; Dt 12:23). In addition, blood and fat were the parts of
the animal that were to be given exclusively to God in the sacrifices (Lev 3:
16-17; 4: 18-35; 9: 18-20). Thus, the reference to the flesh and blood in these
words of Jesus has nothing to do with the Eucharist (although historically it
has been interpreted that way and some believe that this section about flesh
and blood was added to the original discourse) , but with the sacrifice of the
tabernacle or the temple that restored or celebrated the communion between the believer
and God. Truly, we must not concentrate on the metaphors of bread / meat /
blood that Jesus uses throughout the chapter, but on what is done with those
elements: eating. To eat the manna in the desert was to receive life. To eat
the separated loaves for the priests of the temple was to have communion with
God. Also to eat the sacrificed meat on the altar was, for the believing Jew,
to have communion with the same God. Eating is synonymous with accepting,
receiving, believing, trusting, welcoming, staying, etc., all words that the
Gospel of John uses repeatedly to describe the challenge with which Jesus
confronts us-the obligation of the true disciple or the true disciple. to
remain faithful to the Lord and to remain in communion with Him. And given the
context of sacrifice in the words "flesh and blood," the nuance here
is that we must accept Christ, not only descended from heaven but also raised
on the cross (Jn 3:14). In this approach, according to which the person and the
way of Jesus are understood both through the cross and through the
resurrection, all the gospels are in agreement.”[1]
I like his explanation sort of but for me it robs John’s
Gospel of it’s approach though he does keep the heart of the message.
How does Johns Gospel open?
In the beginning was the
Word,
And the Word was with God,
And the Word was God.
This [Word] was in the
beginning with God.
Everything came to be through
[the Word],
And apart from [the Word]
nothing at all came to be.
What came to be in [the
Word] was Life,
And the Life was the light
of human beings.
And the Light shines in
Darkness,
And the Darkness did not
master [the Light] ….
The Genuine Light, which
enlightens every human being, was coming into the World.
The commentator wants us to move away from metaphor and
struggle with the literal concept of consuming that which feeds us with God at
table. But I hear something different if we listen to how John opens this
Gospel with Metaphor as Jesus being the Word of God with us from the beginning
through which all things are made then the word became flesh and walked among
us ministered to us taught us and then returned to heaven leaving us nothing
but…His word, the word. We are called to feast upon the word of Christ.
We are called to feast upon the Gospel.
“Eating is synonymous with accepting, receiving,
believing, trusting, welcoming, staying, etc., all words that the Gospel of
John uses repeatedly to describe the challenge with which Jesus confronts
us-the obligation of the true disciple or the true disciple. to remain faithful
to the Lord and to remain in communion with Him.”[3] I suspect some people in Jesus’ crowd heard these words
with this exact interpretation some did not but those who were challenged by
Jesus words used the excuse that his words are too hard. Much like the young
man asked how to get to heaven…he was already doing what was easy for him.
Keeping the Sabbath…Tithing, feeding the hungry…So Jesus says let’s go a step
further sell all you own give it away and follow me…the man went away sad
because the call was too hard….
“Throughout this chapter's discussion about the bread which
gives life, Jesus' words have been greeted with misunderstanding, confusion,
and objection from the crowd, referred to either simply as "they" or
"the Jews." In verse 60, we hear about the reaction from the
"disciples" (in John not to be equated with "the twelve";
see verse 67). We may expect better things from them. After all, they were the
ones who sat together with Jesus at the beginning of this text, who followed
Jesus' instructions in gathering up the leftovers of the bread and fish, and
who were rescued from the storm at sea by Jesus. Perhaps most importantly, we
expect that "the disciples" belong to "us," and not to
"them."
Thus, we may be stunned when we hear that the disciples are
now the ones who are bothered by what Jesus has said. We may have been tempted
to simply write off the rest of the crowd as stubborn and obtuse, but the
reference to "the disciples" sounds uncomfortably close to home. In
verse 61, the disciples begin to grumble (NRSV "complain"), just as
"the Jews" did in verse 41. Here, the problem seems not so much that
the disciples have difficulty understanding what Jesus is saying; they
understand quite well but cannot believe and follow what Jesus has said. How
often do we find the same to be true about ourselves?
As has been Jesus' habit throughout this conversation, he
meets objections by sharpening the point of his message, raising the offense
rather than softening it, and thereby bringing the conversation to a crisis. In
verse 62, Jesus points to his "going up" (NRSV
"ascending"). We may think first of Luke's ascension scene, but we
need to remember that this is John's story, and in John's telling Jesus returns
to the Father by being lifted up on the cross.”[4]
Some of the followers of Christ can already see where all
this is leading there have been a few hints along the way as Jesus has upset
some of the Leadership of the community. This is too hard…others just hear the
literal as opposed to the metaphor and do not even try to understand and
dismiss Jesus. Others are still seeking literal food not understanding that
they will just be hungry again and not fulfilled.
Another commentator reflects;
“The text tells us: "Since then many of his disciples
went back and no longer walked with him" (v. 66). Why did they stop
following Jesus? Is it because they did not understand the way Jesus offered
the eternal bread? Is it possible that some have believed that Jesus would give
them a bread that literally would not end? In a society of scarcity like
Jesus’, the idea of endless sustenance would undoubtedly have attracted many.
But we see through the scriptures that God's plan has never been to serve as a
food-providing machine. The earth in its fullness has always been able to
supply humanity and the creatures of the world with what is necessary. But
human greed has created systems of inequality that favor a few and leave most
people in a state of need.”[5]
This statement made my mind jump my train of thought,
honestly my mind often jumps the track, but this time it jumped to a good
track, I hope, for this led me to think about feeding the hungry and what it
means especially since one of the greatest inequalities in this world remains
food!
As you know by our welcome screen and the advertisement on
the welcome loop we collect food for the food bank. It is not a lot when
you read their wish list;
Here is a list of critically needed items:
CANNED VEGETABLES
BABY CEREAL & FORMULA
CANNED FRUITS
MAC ‘N’ CHEESE
PEANUT BUTTER
JELLY
BOXED RICE
BOXED PASTA
CANNED SOUPS
CANNED MEAT
100% FRUIT JUICES
BREAKFAST BARS
OATMEAL
POWDERED MILK
APPLESAUCE
DRIED BEANS
TRAIL MIX
HEALTHY CEREALS
They also accept pet food, baby food, diapers, and other
items to distribute through our Baby Basket program as well as to other
families in need.
Every little bit helps.
But what does it mean to be hungry? Bread for the world
explains it this way.
“Everyone feels hungry on a daily basis. Most people
are able to satisfy this craving and need. Even if not immediately, they can
count on having a meal or snack within hours. This is not the type of hunger
that Bread is concerned with.
People who suffer chronic hunger don’t have the option of
eating when they are hungry. They do not get enough calories, essential
nutrients, or both. People who are hungry have an ongoing problem with getting
food to eat. They have a primary need — how to feed themselves and their
children today and tomorrow. They have little energy for anything else…
It is commonly known that the cause of hunger in the world
is not a shortage of food but rather access to food.
Some people are hungry because food is in short supply in
their area and for a specific reason. It may be because they can’t afford to
buy enough food. It may be both.
Some countries have a “hunger season” every year. It's when
the previous harvest is gone, and the next harvest is not yet ready. It can
last as long as three or four months.
The U.S. doesn’t have that kind of a hunger season, but for
many families, some weeks are hungrier than others. These usually come toward
the end of the month, as families run short of food before they have money to
buy more. People can’t simply decide to spend less on rent, but, if necessary,
they can spend less on food.
For many low-wage workers, retirees, people with
disabilities, and their families, even careful planning cannot stretch the
grocery budget throughout the month. Less expensive — and less nutritious —
filler foods can keep children’s stomachs from growling, but they can’t provide
what children need to grow and learn. Adults who are missing meals because they
can’t afford to buy food can’t concentrate as well at work…
People in certain conditions, whether they live in the
developing world or the United States, are extremely vulnerable to hunger. A
month of bad weather for a farmer or an illness for a worker and a loss of
income can mean less food and the prospect of hunger.
Food insecurity is the more formal term for this condition.
People living with food insecurity lack a stable, reliable means of getting the
meals they need.”[6]
I thought I could share a few statistics with you as well.
According to second harvest;
“On March 31, 2021, Feeding America released local-level
food insecurity projections for 2021 which show that food insecurity has
remained elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels for 96% of counties. In
Central Florida, Feeding America projects that 13.8%, one in seven people and
20.1%, one in five children, live in households that may be food insecure in
2021.
The study, The Impact of the Coronavirus on Local Food
Insecurity in 2020 and 2021, provides a snapshot of food insecurity at the
state, congressional district and county level prior to the pandemic and
presents the likely impact the ensuing economic crisis has had on food
insecurity levels in the U.S. In addition, for the first time, Feeding America
has produced local-level projections of very low food security, a more severe
range of food insecurity that involves reduced food intake and disrupted eating
patterns.”[7]
“95 million more meals a year are needed to fill the hunger
gap that exists in Central Florida.
One in seven people are facing hunger in our community.
More than 500,000 people in Central Florida don’t know when
or where their next meal will come.
One in five children in Central Florida face hunger.”
“What are the Effects of Food Insecurity?
Chronic Disease
Food Insecurity is associated with higher probability of
chronic diseases such as high blood pressure, coronary heart disease,
hepatitis, stroke, cancer, asthma, diabetes, chronic pulmonary disease and
kidney disease
Child Hunger
Hunger can harm a child’s opportunities to reach their full
potential and contribute fully to their communities—which affects society.
Children from food-insecure homes may be more likely to:
Have lower math scores
Repeat a grade in elementary school
Experience developmental impairments in areas like language
and motor skills
Have more social and behavioral problems
Be less prepared for the workforce as adults
Senior Hunger
Seniors who are food-insecure have:
Higher rates of chronic diseases
Poorer general health
Three times higher prevalence of depression
Diminished capacity to maintain independence while aging”[8]
.
As we feast on the word of God…and when we share in the
table of remembrance called communion we also share a table with those who
around us are hungry for real food.
You see “God's plan has always been to live in
communion with his people; God is still waiting for us to create a world that
reflects the image of God-in love, justice, fulfillment, mercy, equality, etc.
We see it in Genesis, when God created the human being to share in the work of
creation. We see it in the Law, according to which the sacrifices have in mind
a companionship between God and the person and community. We see it in the
Prophets, who insist on the responsibilities of the people to form a just
society. And John, at last, tells us that the Word that created the world became
flesh to call people to a community to opposed to the values of the Roman
Empire and any political or economic system that dehumanizes the being”[9] Jesus
is always calling us to be an anti-Imperial, anti-hierarchical society in which
its members, are empowered by the Spirit that Jesus emphasizes in the fourth
gospel, live in communion with God and with one another. We are called to Feast
upon the word and share in communion as one people, as one spirit, and as the
one body of Christ. Amen
