To have a place of solitude is an inestimable gift. It makes it easy to let the heart expand, to let the senses wake up, one by one, to come alive with fresh vitality. Yet, whatever our circumstances, we need to somehow set aside a time and a place for this kind of experience. We tend to overlook the close connection between responsiveness and responsibility, between sensuousness and social challenge. Outside and inside are of one piece. As we learn to really look with our eyes, we begin to look with our heart also. We begin to face what we might prefer to overlook, begin to see what is going on in this world of ours. As we learn to listen with our ears, our heart begins to hear the cry of the oppressed.
30 The apostles* gathered together with Jesus and reported all they had done and taught 31 He said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat 32 So they went off in the boat by themselves to a deserted place.33 People saw them leaving and many came to know about it. They hastened there on foot from all the towns and arrived at the place before them 34 When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity or them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things
St. John de Britto (1674-1693) was born into a noble family in Portugal. After becoming a Jesuit priest, he volunteered to work in India to convert Hindus to Christianity. St. John was martyred for his efforts. His crime? Feeding the poor
.When St. John arrived in India, he soon discovered that its people were hungry… spiritually. The Indian people wanted to be taught, and they came by the thousands to learn about the Catholic faith and to be fed true bread from heaven….the only way to fill the holes in their souls
During the next 14 years St. John preached, converted, and baptized over 10,000 people. After he advised a powerful prince to dismiss his many wives and to keep only one, St. John was persecuted, tortured and beheaded. A sorrowful example of how powerful people try to hold onto their power
We are also called to feed the poor and those who are hungry in spirit. People are malnourished…both physically and spiritually. We try to satisfy our hunger with everything but Christ. Eating junk food hurts us physically, but spiritual fasts are devastating to the soul.
We must give what we have received for free…truth and faith. Do not worry about what to say…that will come from God. Our job is to open the spigot and let it flow, being careful not to cause a clog so that souls are open to let God’s grace enter
We may wind up like St. John…mocked, ridiculed, disappointed and persecuted. A small cost when compared to the price of a soul which is Christ. Therefore, we can walk away with a smile from those who rebuff us, because we are doing God’s Will and planting seeds. We have given them the spiritual truth. Pilate looked at truth in the face and did not recognize it. John 18:37-38
37 So Pilate said to him, “Then you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say I am a king.* For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice. 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?”
As we draw close to Christ, there will always be more; in fact, infinitely more. We cannot possibly imagine the heavenly banquet…it is too vast. We shall have more joy than we can possibly imagine.
How will you apply this message to your life? Will you help feed the poor?
