Hunger is not what Jesus wanted.

The first all-important component of social justice is adequate food for all mankind, not just those who look and act as we do. Food is the moral right of all who are born into this world. If we are to follow Christ, love God and our neighbors, pursue justice, feed the hungry, and let the oppressed go free, we must accept as our own the reconciling power of God; it is only tis ay that we can have confident hope to an even greater life.

 For me, this passage from Matthew 25 is the most important lessons in the Gospels:

³⁵ 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, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ ³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ ⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

 We cannot do this alone; we need a greater force than our individual selves to advance this cause for the benefit of others. Think of a body of people, travelling together. Envision women, men, and children of all ages, races, and societies supporting one another on their long and often tiresome journeys to their final home. I believe that this is what Jesus and the first century Christian mystics had in mind when they established the first Christian churches.

Ask yourself if we have lived up to this promise, and kept the greater church walking in Christ’s footsteps. Only if we sacrifice ourselves to others will we strengthen the bond between ourselves and God, through Jesus. Lord our God, we thank you that you are so near to us that we may feel and know we are your children, your children who are in your hands with all that belongs to our earthly life, all our needs and temptations, all our efforts and pain. We laud your presence in our lives, assisting us in our victory over everything that makes life difficult for us.