Jesus and Hunger

"After fasting forty days and forty nights, he (Jesus) was hungry." Matthew 4:2

     A man named Baralong from South Africa once prayed: "God of our fathers, I lie down without food, I lie down hungry, although others have eaten and lie down full. Even if it be a polecat, or a little rock rabbit, give me and I shall be grateful. I cry to God, Father of my ancestors."

     As the people of Zimbabwe face one of the worst famines Africa has experienced, it is vitally important to linger with today's Bible verse, for I know some of you already voluntarily forgo meals here and there, or eat a little less, so somehow, others less fortunate might eat.

     Because Jesus Christ actually experienced acute hunger, one of the keenest pains of humankind, we can be assured of his concern and compassion towards hungry people. His stomach growled and gnawed; his intestines felt as if they were twisted into knots and after forty days without food, his abdomen was bloated, while his head throbbed with pain. Jesus literally felt weak and faint, exhausted beyond words, as he voluntarily chose to identify with starving people.

     Today, Jesus listens intently to the prayers of the hungry. The Jesus who hungered, walks with you. You are not alone. May this knowledge help nourish your soul today, as we pray for relief, for yourself and others who hunger.

     May we unite our hearts and voices, praying for those world relief organizations who even now, seek ways to enter Zimbabwe, with food and many urgently needed supplies. Together we can pray for your farmers who have been forcibly prevented from planting crops. May they find places where they can secretly plant food. Let us not forget to pray for those preventing your farmers from raising and harvesting critically needed crops -- that they may see the suffering children and have compassion on them.

     Pray, pray, pray. It is our lifeline from God. Use it often and expect miracles of divine grace and mercy. Although Almighty God will not be rushed, the God of our ancestors is always on time. May God give us all our daily bread today.

     Prayer: God, awaken your Church around the world to Zimbabwe's need for famine relief. Provide for hungry, we pray, in miraculous ways. May the day come quickly, when everyone in the world, will have the luxury of going to bed with a full stomach. For Jesus Christ's sake, amen.

Written by Rev. Dr. Sandy Bochonok
http://soulfoodministry.org
July 3, 2002
Permission is given to freely distribute and share this reflection with the people of Zimbabwe.