The Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 4, verse 6 gives us Jesus saying: “No one can live alone on food. People need every word that God has spoken”. Without food people perish. Without adequate food the development of brain and body are compromised. Obviously Jesus was not downplaying the value of food. The issue for 2010 is the definition of “Food” in the wealthy countries of the world. Food for the very poor is anything that will sustain the body. For people with money food is often the playground of imagination and sensual experience. Jesus in his words above is reminding us of our duty to keep things in their proper place or suffer the consequences. It is apparent that in America one of the consequences of questionable food is obesity – a serious health issue. The practical value of the words of Jesus give basis for churches to examine the place of food in each society on earth where Christians are present.
Where I live in the Midwest of America in Minnesota the expanding work of Community Food shelves gives evidence both of the need and of Christian response.
It is my intention of contemplate the words of Jesus during today’s waking hours.
