August 03, 2014
18th Sunday Ordinary Time
Jesus fed 5,000 men – “not counting women and children.†The Bible reflects a mindset in the ancient world i.e. women and children were not always considered worth mentioning. In antiquity families lived on the razor’s edge of survival: lacking a daily wage; scarcity of food, water and shelter; and because of war, people lived on the margins of life and death. Our world situation is also precarious. A United Nations report in June counts 50 million refugees, many children unaccompanied by parents, fleeing their homeland. It is the greatest number of displaced persons since the end of World War II. With 24-7 NEWS coverage we can visualize some of the places: Ukraine, Syria, Gaza, Sudan and our own southern border. What will we say to these women and children: “Go home!� The disciples beseech Jesus to send the multitude home to neighboring villages and towns to get food, water and shelter. Jesus says to them: “Give them something to eat yourselves.†They did. Can we? Fear enters the equation. Will refugees/immigrants threaten our way of life or overwhelm our social services? Agencies are stepping forward: United Nations, World Health Organization, Caritas, Catholic Relief, and, in WNY, Catholic Charities and Vive. In September Mark Ludwig, from Annunciation, will be going with the Friends of the Children of Haiti to the impoverished island to staff a health clinic. We can support his effort with donations. Alone, the challenges are staggering but, in solidarity as Church, we can respond together with compassion. St. Paul affirms in his letter to the Romans: “Nothing can separate us from God’s love in Christ Jesus.
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17th Sunday Ordinary Time
