In the Gospel of Matthew and in a parable which reminds us of the last judgment, Jesus teaches us about the importance of feeding “the hungry” and clothing the “naked’’. In that parable, the king said to the sheep: “Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.” When the sheep, the righteous, asked the king: “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?” The king will say to them in reply, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (NAB Bible, Matthew 25: 31-40) As Catholics, we believe that in the poor, especially in the poorest of the poor, we see the suffering Christ. To care for them, and more specifically to feed them with food, is to care for Christ.
In responding the Christ’s invitation to feed the “hungry” and to clothe the “naked,” several years ago, a parishioner made a beautiful oak Food Chest to replace a wood box in the narthex of the church. Parishioners drop off non-perishable food items such as: jelly, pancake mix, syrup, cereal, vegetables, fruits, juices, tuna, spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, macaroni, ramen noodles, hamburger helper, etc… The following non-food items are also placed into the chest: powdered laundry soap, toilet paper, towels, toothbrushes and toothpaste, etc. All of these help to feed the “hungry” and clothe the “naked” – the very people that Christ directed us to help.
In fact, every week, Manna Pantry, an agency associated with St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, in town, stops by, collects all the items in our Food Chest, then delivers them to the suffering.
St. Mary Parish has been a major contributor to Manna Pantry for many years. As we place food and helpful items in the Food Chest, may we also say a prayer for all the recipients that they might experience the consolation of Christ and the loving care of God’s people.
For more information or any inquiries about this ministry, contact our Parish Secretary: bmorawa@stmarybr.org