AT YOUR PARISH - Caritas Australia

PRAYER ANDBIBLE PASSAGEFOR REFLECTION“The means and resources the worldhas at its disposal today could supplysufficient food to satisfy the growingneeds of everyone…Why is it not possible,then, to avoid having so many peoplesuffer so gravely from hunger that theyfind themselves facing the most extremeconsequences?”Pope Benedict XVI“The one who is nourished on the Breadof Christ cannot remain indifferent beforethe one who, even in our day, is deprivedof daily bread.”Pope Benedict XVI“How does God’s love abide in anyonewho has the world’s goods and sees abrother or sister in need and yet refusesto help?”1 John 3.17“What good is it if the Eucharistic table isoverloaded with golden chalices whenyour brother is dying of hunger? Start bysatisfying his hunger and then with what isleft you may adorn the altar as well.”St John ChrysostomPRAYERDear Lord,We thank you for the blessings of food,water, shelter, family and well-being. Aswe enjoy healthy food, we will think ofthose who struggle to feed their familiesevery day.You taught us to pray.As we say “Give us today our daily bread”we make that prayer also for the millionswho go hungry every day.You fed the hungry.Inspire in us the commitment to followyour example, showing compassion inaction and sharing what we have withthose who have less.You cared for all.Help us to remember your command tolove one another.Help us to see you in each of our brothersand sisters – especially those who are inneed.You are the Bread of Life.Strengthen us as we work for justice in theworld.Help us to stand in solidarity with thepoorest of the poor.You came so that we could have life andhave it to the full.Our prayer is that this might be true for all.We pray that communities andgovernments recognise our sharedresponsibility to be more just in sharingthe world’s resources.Help us to care more deeply, live moresimply and share more fully.AmenBIBLE PASSAGE FORREFLECTION ANDDISCUSSIONMatthew 25:35-40For I was hungry and you gave me food,I was thirsty and you gave me somethingto drink;I was a stranger and you welcomed me;I was naked and you gave me clothing;I was sick and you took care of me;I was in prison and you visited me.”Then the righteous will answer him,“Lord, when was it that we saw you hungryand gave you food, or thirsty and gave yousomething to drink?And when was it that we saw you a strangerand welcomed you, or naked and gaveyou clothing? And when was it that wesaw you sick or in prison and visited you?”And the king will answer them, “Truly I tellyou, just as you did it to one of the least ofthese who are members of my family, youdid it to me.”SOME REFLECTIONSFROM THIS PASSAGE:• The call to respond to our neighbour’sneeds and to share with others.• The importance of the preferentialoption for the poor. The special careJesus himself showed to the “least”– the poor and suffering among hispeople.• A reminder of the words of ArchbishopOscar Romero of El Salvador: “Aspirenot to have more but to BE more.”8