Scripture (Matthew 25:24f), a story, an observation and a prayer about the hungry of our world

SCRIPTURE: Matthew 25:24, 35, 38-40 (NIV)
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance … For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, … "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

THE STORY by Lewis L. Dunningham
A certain gentleman was being conducted on a tour of the other world. On reaching the nether regions he was greatly surprised to find the people all seated at a banquet table loaded with appetizing food. On the wall was the one law of the place – strictly enforced. Everyone must use the knives and forks provided by the management. But the tools of service had such long handles that no one could get a morsel of food near his mouth. They were all starving to death. And that was hell! In the celestial city our visiting friend also found the people seated at banquet tables loaded with the same food and holding the same long-handled forks. But they were having a delightful time. They were feeding each other. And that was heaven!

OBSERVATION:
The nightly newscast takes to another part of the world and brings into our living rooms the starvation of a whole nation. Somalia stands as the symbol of devastating hunger on a scale that literally staggers our minds. We have no way in wrapping our minds around the situation. The pictures of those little boys and girls haunt us. And we wonder what can we do – the need is so vast and we are only one person.

Our cities are filled to overflowing with the homeless, the needy and the hungry. The numbers grow every week. We see them on the street corners, in the parks and around the shopping centers. And we wonder what can we do, after all we are only one person.

And yet, we are one! We can provide a cup of coffee, a hamburger or maybe a fast food meal coupon. We can provide financial assistance to the vast number of helping agencies that are in foreign situations trying to meet the human need on our behalf.

We don’t have to solve the problem, but we do have to respond. How can we not?

PRAYER:
We must admit, O Eternal Father, that it is easy to ignore the hungry of the world, of our community, of our town … if we just do not look. Forgive us for turning our heads, diverting our eyes, turning the TV to a more pleasant show. The problem overwhelms us and we stagger under the sheer thought of the people being effected by starvation. Forgive us for throwing perfectly good food away, for consuming too much, for taking it all for granted. Direct our faith to begin to do something … anything … regardless of how small. This we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.