We are all familiar with the feeding of the multitudes, in particular John’s description of the 5,000 hungry and tired individuals gathered before Jesus and his disciples.  Some say the miracle that transpired with the boys’ five loaves and two fish actually culminated with the sharing of all the food the many individuals had brought with them.  Inspired by Jesus’ teachings, and his love and belief in them, they spontaneously and graciously shared whatever food they had brought with them, providing more than enough for each person to be nourished and still have leftovers.  Miraculously, everyone shared what little they had, with a spirit of generosity and hope, and for that moment, becoming the Body of Christ, communally.  However we attempt to explain the ‘how’ of the miracle—feeding of the 5,000–the primary lesson Jesus offered was of faith in something greater, generosity, and a spirit of community.  Philosopher and theologian Nikolai Bordyaev suggests the vital understanding of Jesus’ teaching: “The question of bread for myself is a material question, but the question of bread for my neighbor is a spiritual question.”  Throughout our state, different religious and civic organizations have established ‘soup kitchens’ and food pantries to aid individuals and families who lack the means of nutritious food.  Certainly the efforts of these outreach organizations, such as Food At First in Ames were established and maintained through the guidance of christian virtues.  Though most are non denominational, these outreach efforts—such as Food At First in Ames—were established and continue to provide for the needs of others through the embellishment of Christian virtues.  

"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." (Matthew 25:35)

"Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?" (James 2:15-16)

Witness the efforts of the Food Bank of Iowa, which ended 2023 offering more food products and supported by more volunteers than in any previous time in its 41 year.  Serving 55 counties it distributed 1 million pounds of food, equivalent of 17 million meals.  Food Bank of Iowa is supported by 700 ‘partners’ and served over 650,000 households last year.  We are generous as a community of Iowans and each local town or city, guided by Christian virtues have a history of reaching out and providing food for those without.  Boone likewise continues with various programs and individual efforts to provide for the dignity and worth of others with the provisions of food offered.

    At various conferences for the priests and deacons of our diocese, speakers are brought in who share our Catholic faith and more often than not, are serving the church.  One such speaker, a priest from a different state, directed a two day conference, held at Briar Cliff campus.  During one of his sessions he talked about a brother priest who was granted permission by the bishop to serve in a inner city parish with a bold ministry of outreach to the homeless and the ‘street people.’  He began offering simple medical supplies to those who had no access to health care, through the generous donations of others.  At the same time, he would rise early in the morning to prepare sandwiches and offer them to whomever was in need of a meal on the street.  As our presenter explained the story of his brother priest, he decided to help out by sending him a kind note of support along with a sizable check.  A week or so later he received a letter back with his check returned.  In the letter his brother priest thanked him for his generosity but concluded his letter by saying, “take your money and make your own sandwiches for the needy.”  Put off at first, he understood the lesson his brother priest was trying to convey.  Our generosity will always be an extension of our Christian faith calling to serve others in need; but we need to likewise share our ‘presence’ thus validating the worth and dignity of the other.

There are people in the world so hungry that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread. (Mohandas Gandhi)

    Just an FYI pertaining to the culture of food and meals recorded in scripture.  Food demonstrates God’s goodness, and it is mentioned well over a thousand times in the Bible.  Of course, the content of the meals depended on the occasion and the family’s wealth, (no different than today).  Most of the meals consisted of vegetables with bread as a staple.  Meat was occasionally served, most likely on feast days and when entertaining guests or a stranger who stops by.  Oftentimes the bread was enhanced with a broth to increase its flavor, and for many in Palestine fruits and fish were considered the favorite dishes so to speak.  And there was plentiful and a variety of fruits in Palestine with such dry favorable weather.  Typically families enjoyed two basic meals a day: breakfast and supper.  Usually a morning meal consisted of bread, fruits and cheese; no actual ‘cooking’ involved.  Considered the main meal, supper would often consist of vegetables, butter, bread, wine—sometimes soup—and on occasion, meat.  Scripture offers no mention of eating utensils, with the exception of a bowl and plate.  As it still exists in some cultures today, bread was used as a spoon and at times as a plate. Soup or broth was served in a common bowl with those at the table dipping their bread into the mixture.                God Bless, Fr. Tim