Ordinary Time

Pause

If I just breathe

Let it fill the space between

I'll know everything is alright

Breathe

Every little piece of me

You'll see

Everything is alright

If I just breathe

"Breathe" by Michelle Branch (2003)

 

Today, breathe in God’s abundant Enough.

Listen

Jesus said this to test him, for he already knew what he was going to do.

Philip replied, “More than a half year’s salary worth of food wouldn’t be enough for each person to have even a little bit.”

John 6:6-7

Think

I recently moved to a new city and the first question I asked was, “Where is the best grocery store?” People gave different answers, but I could tell I wasn’t going to be satisfied with the lack of upscale grocery stores. But then I crossed over to the other side of town and realized the real dissatisfaction.

In yesterday’s reading, Jesus asked the question, “Where will we buy food to feed these people?” I realized my question: “Where is the best grocery store?” was one of privilege. While I was asking this, at the same time many Americans were asking, “How will we buy food?”

Food insecurity is an evil that pervades our society and our world. When there is a lack of nutritional food or lack of food at all, our families, our friends, our siblings in Christ suffer. And soon the questions become, “How do we pay this health bill?”

So, when Jesus asks, “Where will we buy food to feed these people?” the answer, we should already know, begins with us.

Timothy Peoples

Pray

God of all things, may I find ways to extend my hands with offerings that yield nourishment. May I work together with others in my community and with my church in faith, so that none will ever raise the question, “How will we buy food?” Amen.

Go

Do all the good you can,

By all the means you can,

In all the ways you can,

In all the places you can,

At all the times you can,

To all the people you can,

As long as ever you can.

attributed to John Wesley