RELIGIOUS VIEWPOINTS

“GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO EAT” (MTT. 14: 16)

1. Nutrition is one of the characteristics of a living being. Man as a living being finds himself always in a continuous search for means to realize this disposition that he has been endowed with by his creator –God, who never abandons man to wander in hunger. He remains the God who provides the –material and spiritual- needs of his people. On the one hand, the material need is evidenced in the exodus experience of the people of Israel, whereby Moses in response to the people said ‘it is the bread the Lord has given you to eat’ (Gen. 16: 15b). It is never the intention of God to see his people in peril. On the other hand, one can easily notice that the Divine-Human encounter in the pages of the sacred scriptures are filled up with the ever-longing of man to be united with his God. Particularly, in the New Testament, we find this encounter in the person of Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word of the Father, who in obedience to His will, came down to us so as to lift us up with him to His Father. God’s love for us was fundamentally and palpably manifested in the sending character of Christ into the world (1 John 4:9).

2.The earthly ministry of Christ exposes to us the ever-provisional character of God. He brought to us not only freedom from the slavery of sin (cf. John 1:29; Lk. 5:32; 1 Jn 3:6), thus opening for us ways for the salvation of our souls; but also with it the freedom from the entanglements of natural ailments, and the replenishing of certain needs which by way of our natural disposition is indispensable for man (cf. The miracles of Christ); thus opening for us the ways for the salvation of our bodies here on earth. He brought to us a holistic salvation needed both for life here and the life hereafter. One of the scripture passages in which this care for the material needs of man by God is evidenced is the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves. Jesus, aware of the plight of the people who were following him told his apostles: ‘they do not need to go away, you give them something to eat’ (Mtt. 16: 14). Without going deep into the exegetical nuances associable with the passage, these questions are pertinent for a proper application of the periscope to our times: What do these words and acts of Christ mean for us Christians today? How is the world today repeating these same words of Christ, and consequently, how does she understand them? What lessons can we possibly draw from these words? And how do we apply these words to our era? In fact, what does it mean to give?

3. In an age where the common economic riches of a nation is left in the hands of a few who mishandle them; an era when the rich would prefer being worshipped by the poor before they can gain any material favour from them; an age when starvation is eating deep in the fabrics of many societies; an era when being uncharitable is backed up with many egoistic reasons; a period when it becomes nearly hard to find a docile heart which finds it simple to accept favours from fellows; it becomes a great challenge for Christians to appreciate the gifts of charity from God so as to discover best ways of applying this knowledge already rooted in God to the signs of the time. This particular act of Jesus (feeding the five thousand); and more specifically, these words of Mtt. 14: 16 suggests to a large extent the character of charity. A charity which flows from God, who is love to his people, and which ought to disperse from the people to fellow people and creatures, is that which is authentically Christian. Christ, in his mandate to us, challenges us to give, for through the act of giving, one attracts favours (cf. Luke 6:38).

4. There are basically three approaches in understanding the act of charity, which we also see in this passage: from the side of the giver, from the side of the receiver, and from that which has been given- the gift. The giver must exercise the act of charity as that which is free. The act of Christian giving is not born out of compulsion. For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has not, not according to what he does not have (2 Cor. 8:12).  And in this, the Christian ought to pay attention to the reason for which he gives. It must be rooted in the love of God, which can be co-extensive in favour of others (Mathew 22:37-39). Charity is also understood from the side of the receiver. The connectedness of the receiver to the giver is important. Consequently, the moral magnitude of charity hinges also on the gains or losses one may be anticipating for the reward of having given. For Christ says: if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? (Luke 6:32). The third element, which is the gift, links us to the enormity of the gift in connection with the eradication of, or possible solution of the problem through the use of that which is offered; for instance, when one who needs greater aid for a particular need is offered just a little help. More so, that which is given is connected with the time of need of the receiver. It is also in connection with the availability of the gift which is offered (cf. The poor widow’s mite: Mark 12:41-44).

5. The example of Christ is that which all his followers ought to emulate. He was able to give the people something to eat because of a personal conviction rooted in the love of the Father and his compassion for them. It is because ‘he was moved with pity’ and had compassion (cf. Mtt 15:32) that propelled him to feed the people. It is even this compassion of Christ that culminated in his kenotic (self-emptying) character on the cross. Hence, this same sacrificial lifestyle, and not expecting anything in return for having given, ought to be the watchword of our lives as Christians. Today, egoism and individualism have stripped us of our openness to others, of generosity and compassion. Even those who seem generous are always noticed not to be moved by compassion to help, but by ulterior motives. Compassion is now an ideal which is sought in our world. The underlying intent for which Charity should be done is replaced by so many other motives which do not perfectly portray the ideals Christ has left us with. Practically, the rich are seen to be richer while the poor are noticed to be poorer. There is an increasing consciousness of class difference, either in wealth or in knowledge, or in an area where one may find himself as one of the best. No one appears to embrace the character of descending to the others considered as the downtrodden and relegated in society. Christ came so that we may be lifted up from our low state to a higher state of a happy dwelling with him. “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself” (John 12:32), says Christ. St. Paul exhorts Christians to be kind and compassionate to one another (Eph 4:12) and as God’s chosen people, and dearly beloved, to clothe ourselves with compassion and kindness (Col. 3:12). Our character of giving ought to flow from a deep-seated compassion for the suffering people. It ought to have its foundation in mercy; be you merciful as your heavenly Father is merciful (Luke 6:36), for blessed are the merciful, they will be shown mercy (Mtt. 5:7).

6. Charity has its consequences; in the life on earth and in the life hereafter. Individually, a charitable and compassionate heart is a happy one that sees every situation as an opportunity to win the favour of God. Charity is also an antidote to the egoistic lifestyle in our world today. The various philosophical inclinations of relativism and subjectivism will be found irrelevant if the citizens of the world imbibe a fraternal co-existence rooted in compassion and kindness. These are some of the imminent consequences of charity. Charity, as one of the theological virtues of the Church, uplifts the soul and thus has an eschatological import. There is an assurance of the beatific vision for the faithful who, despite all hindrances and hurdles, see God in his neighbour; thus living out the dictate of Christ, who, having emptied himself here on earth, sits in the right hand of the Father in heaven. Christ saved us, not because of the righteous things we have done, but because of his mercy for us (Titus 3:14); so also we should, as Christians, give, not because of how good a person is to us, or for some other egoistic reasons, but out of mercy and love for fellow men.