Once on the Great Sabbath the rabbi of Roptchitz came home from the house of prayer with weary steps.“What made you so tired?” asked his wife.“It was the sermon,” the rabbi replied. “I had to speak of the poor and their many needs for the coming Passover. Unleavened bread and wine and everything else is terribly high this year.”
“And what did you accomplish with your sermon?” his wife asked.“Half of what is needed,” he answered. “You see, the poor are now ready to take. As for the other half, whether the rich are ready to give - I don’t know about that yet.”
Sr Joan Chittister writes in her book ‘40 Stories to Stir the Soul’ that the gospel imperative to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty is not about giving things away at all. It’s about all of us - those who need and those who give - finally getting to be more human together.
Jesus calls us to be the hands that feed his flock. Perhaps while shopping, you might consider purchasing one or two items extra for both St. Vincent de Paul (just place them in the baskets at the church or pass to a SVDP member) and our Community Food Pantry (leave them in the unpowered fridge situated between the parish office and garages, drop them into the office or handball them to Father) Both are in dire need of non-perishable items to help those residing in our Community who are in need.
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