WHAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU?

I don't know you can listen to the Letter of James in the New Testament and not feel a need to get busy. For the past five weeks, we have been listening to excerpts from his letter in the readings at Mass. In case you don't remember some of his admonishments, here are two that stick with me:

"Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourself."

"So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead."

As I meditate on these readings as well as the tendency of Jesus to associate himself with the poor of the world, it raises up in me a strong desire to serve and sacrifice for the poor. In the world over a billion people are hungry - more than any time in the history of the world. Approximately 25,000 people die every day of starvation and most of those are children. It can be overwhelming and paralyzing to think about. "Experts" will tell you that there is plenty of food in the world but that it can be difficult to get it distributed to the places it is so desperately needed. Which brings up a question - Do we not possess the will to solve this problem? I am a father and a grandfather. I cannot imagine what the parents and grandparents of these little ones go through each and every day as they watch their children suffer and die.

That's where Mother Theresa's advice is so appropriate - "Do what is in front of you. You cannot feed everyone - so feed one." Please join me today in committing to a simple promise. As you move about in your day and the problem of hunger and poverty confronts you do something about it. Give a few dollars to the beggar, donate to a good agency that works with the impoverished, or volunteer at an agency. Simply DO WHAT IS IN FRONT OF YOU!

Here is a link to a great organization that is fulfilling the mission of the Church in the world:

http://www.crosscatholic.org/