Food Network: Four Ways to Feed the Hungry

As Americans, most of us have far more than we need to survive. We may have food we don’t even like stored in pantries, but getting it from our pantry to the hungry requires more than goodwill. It takes a bit of effort and maybe even some risk on our part. After all, the hungry seldom live in nice, safe suburbs, although with our current economy, this is quickly changing. So how are we to follow Jesus’ example? How are we to do the moral thing, the right thing, the loving thing?

There are, of course, many possibilities. Some are simple; others require total commitment. One of the simplest things each of us can do is to write our political representatives. While we may feel this does little good, Tony Hall (former Congressman and ambassador to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) assures us that it is absolutely necessary and is one of our most powerful vehicles for change. As Christians living in a democracy, we have a moral obligation to participate in the governance of our nation. As United States citizens, we have the power to effect policy throughout the world. As disciples of Christ, we must set our government’s priorities, and those priorities must be in line with the Gospel. As Catholics, we must express our desire for a “preferential option for the poor.” We must encourage our political leaders to take money from pork-barrel projects that feed only a wealthy minority and give it to those who stand at the door and knock. Although we may sometimes feel that our individual efforts do little to help the vast throng of hungry souls, we can help move our nation to once again become a powerful force for change in our world.

As we look to Jesus’ fourfold challenge, we must take stock of what we have. Even in the current economic crisis, most of us are far better off than the rest of the world. The thought that half the world’s population lives on $2.00 a day is staggering. I usually spend more than that on lunch. When Jesus was told they had five loaves and two fish, he did not hold back what he felt they would need, let’s say three loaves and one fish. He offered it all. He poured out everything they had on the altar of sacrifice and love.

We Catholics are asked to give 10 percent of our income. Often this is divided, with 5 percent going to our local parish and 5 percent to other charities. Statistics show, however, that most Catholics give only 1 percent. Jesus challenges us to full disclosure, to lay all that we have before our God. If we were to be truly sacrificial, how much good could we accomplish? If we but offered the portion we waste by not clipping coupons, and by cooking too much and eating too much; the money we spend on things we don’t need and sometimes quickly find we don’t even want; the gas money we waste by driving places we don’t need to be; and the $2.00 worth of change we carelessly leave in seat cushions and drawer bottoms, think of the difference we could make.