"You Feed Them"

You Feed Them

In Matthew 14:15-22, Jesus feeds a multitude of people with just a few loaves of bread and fish. It's a miraculous story, but it's also a powerful parable about the importance of caring for one another.

In the story it’s been a long, eventful day. The sun is setting, and the disciples tell Jesus to send the crowds away so that they can go into town and buy food for themselves. Jesus will have none of it: “You feed them,” he says. 

In an ideal world, the government would be responsible for ensuring that all citizens have their basic needs met. However, the world we live in is far from perfect. Whether you believe in individual responsibility or government intervention, the result is often the same: it allows us to absolve ourselves from the responsibility of caring for our neighbors.

But when we start with the face in the mirror and look to ourselves to create the world we dream of, we empower ourselves to engender that world. Rather than waiting for the powerful to change or for the world to simply improve, we can take action today.

When we care for each other and share resources, outcomes, and dreams, miraculous things can happen. 

When we began Bringing Justice Home, we were a small group of five individuals or families who shared enough resources to support twelve other households for a year. Our hope was to make a small difference in our community. But what we discovered was that when we are willing to share what we have, even if it isn't much, generosity multiplies. In less than six months, the number of families sharing their resources had increased more than twelvefold, and we had the resources to support 24 households and add additional services, like our pantry staples program. It's a powerful reminder of the biblical story of the loaves and fishes: when we share, even a little, there's enough, more than enough, for everyone.

So what are you waiting for? Look around and see where you can help. Volunteer your time, donate to local charities, or simply be kind to those around you. Together, we can create a world where everyone feels loved, supported, and cared for.

Remember: You don't have to be a superhero to make a difference. Every small act of kindness can have a ripple effect. So, let's get out there and feed the world, one person at a time.