Having a reading of the feeding of the four thousand is intriguing during lent. There is so much talk of depriving oneself of food, fasting and observing lent that we forget about feeding the people. The disciples were not interested in feeding the crowd or they thought that it would be difficult to embark on something like that. The miracle was not just feeding the four thousand and even more with seven loaves and a few fish, but being sure that it was indeed possible.
In our culture we take many
things for granted. We do not want to do a certain thing because it is
difficult and calls for a little effort. The disciples had to think of the
seven loaves and the little fish, they also had to figure out how to divide
this little food. So, the solution for them was to let the people go. Churches
and communities are also like this. They will think that the people who come
will fend for themselves and go back from church and eat from their home. All
this because, arranging snacks or food is an effort and is hard work.
This is also why many government
institutions don’t have basic facilities. There won’t be drinking water, proper
toilets, canteens and the like because the idea is that the public will fend
for themselves and there is no need to provide these essential and basic
facilities. Jesus thinks differently. Even though he didn’t have to give food,
he thinks about it. He looks at fulfilling the basic human needs of those who
came to listen to him. Even though they came out of their own wish, Jesus feels
it is essential to provide for them.
In St. Mark 8: 6 it is said that,
he takes the loaves “and gave them to his disciples to set before the people;
and they set them before the crowd.” There is a great feast that Jesus
initiates and calls us to initiate too. The coming together of a crowd also
calls for their wellbeing and offering them food. Churches have to take this up
with or without lent. Lent is a good time to think about this and start food programmes.
It should not be limited to our church and community but to all who come. The
Sikh gurudwaras with their Langars (community kitchen) are a beautiful example
of this in today’s world. Christians cannot do without feasting. But feasting
as excessive happiness should not just be the meaning we get. It is rather a
meal given in a crowd which makes them justly happy and therefore in a festive
mood.
Food also has a holiness aspect
to it. It should not be wasted and disrespected. It becomes another sharing and
fellowship. Food is indeed the way to the heart. We have a responsibility to serve
food as it is an effort to alleviate hunger. Many in the crowd and in our
church and community may not have the luxury of food. It is our way of life
which makes us think the contrary. Many who come to churches may have fasted
and are not necessarily going back to an assured plate of food. Jesus thought
practically and was concerned about the people who did not have an idea about
whether they would eat or not.
The Great Fast and Great Lent
should go along with the Great Feast. A fast and lent without the feasting and
the fellowship is far from the teaching of Jesus. Many poor people observe lent
and such lents are much more difficult than observed by others. It is the
responsibility of the haves to then provide to the have nots, just like Jesus
did. May this lent remind us of this feasting, a feast and feasting for the
poor and needy. Amen.
