SAINT ALPHONSUS LIGUORI, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH (MEMORIAL)

Give them some food yourselves.

Longtime readers of The Word Among Us may recall the central place this Scripture passage has in our history. Forty-two years ago, the Holy Spirit brought these words alive for our founder, Joe Difato, and his colleagues. Together, they sensed a call from the Lord to help “feed” his people with daily encouragement from Scripture. At the time, they felt as ill-equipped to start a magazine as the disciples felt to feed five thousand people with a few loaves and fish. But Jesus blessed and multiplied their work just as he blessed the disciples’ meager rations.

Today, Jesus speaks these same words to all of us: Give them some food yourselves (Matthew 14:16). He sees the hunger in each heart—a hunger for food, for love, and for him. And he calls us to feed his people, both materially and spiritually.

Now, we might feel as baffled as the first disciples and think, How can I feed all the hungry people in the world, let alone give them spiritual food? I don’t have the money or the faith or the training. What we have seems inadequate. But we can follow the disciples’ example and bring the little we do have to Jesus. He will bless our efforts and use them to meet the needs of his people.

You don’t have to feed every person; just start by caring for the people in front of you. The Holy Spirit can alert you to someone’s needs. Does he need a listening ear? Is she short on cash in the checkout line? Are the husband and wife in the next pew struggling with their children, wondering if it’s worth coming to Mass? You may have only a little courage or resources, but you can reach out. Ask Jesus to bless your efforts as you “feed” them with whatever kindness, food, money, or encouragement you can muster. You’ll be amazed at what God can do!

“Lord, I give you all that I have. Use me to feed your people.”

Jeremiah 28:1-17
Psalm 119:29, 43, 79-80, 95, 102
Matthew 14:13-21