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, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Matthew 25:35-40

Jesus often told parables to help people understand simple spiritual truth. The religious leaders of his day had created so many rules and regulations they had lost sight of the simple truth about things like worship and how to treat their fellow man.  This parable is an example of that and ties the truths together.  I think Jesus is saying that we cannot truly worship him and ignore the needs of others.

I hear people talk about eliminating world hunger and I have often wondered if that is possible.  I have seen hunger and extreme poverty firsthand in places like Haiti and the Philippines, but also in cities like Chicago, Paris, and New York, places where the extremes of wealth and deprivation coexist in stark contrast. You cannot come face to face with hunger and starvation without wondering, “Why doesn’t someone do something about this?”  Some people are driven to give their whole lives to solving the problem.  Others are driven to act as if the problem doesn’t exist.  Isn’t there a response we can engage in between these extremes?

I believe there is. Something that Kay and I experienced a couple of years ago that has made us wonder ever since if we could do something similar right here at Faith.  Feed My Starving Children Grayslake is our opportunity to spend a day engaged in a hands-on response to the needs of thousands of dying children around the world.  Our goal on December 5th is to pack 100,000 meals to meet the daily nutritional needs of starving children and families.  You can come for a 2-hour time period where you can help prepare and pack these meals, and make a difference.  The experience will move you emotionally and spiritually. It is amazing what difference $19,000 and 100,000 meals can make – to save lives and to move you forward on your spiritual journey. But don’t do it for yourself, do it for the King. 

(Visit www.fmscgrayslake.org for more details)