As we prepare to celebrate World Communion Sunday tomorrow, I am so excited about the Hope for Africa Children's Choir that is coming to sing at both worship services. Our congregation has a special connection with a theological college and a missionary family in Tanzania, so I'm excited to see what new links we can make with this important ministry.
I've also been meditating on the absence of food in the terrible natural disasters that have occurred this week: the tsunami in the Samoas, the typhoons in the Philippines, and the earthquake in Indonesia (see Unitted Methodist Committee on Relief for information on our response to these terrible situations). Our voluntary forgoing of food is so luxurious compared to our brothers and sisters around the world, who have no choice but to ration their food, if they can even find some to eat. I confess before God that I am not nearly as passionate about their suffering as I am interested in ensuring that I have a full belly. Forgive me, God, for the ways I fail you and your people.
God of all comfort and all hope, forgive me, forgive me, for my selfish focus on my own needs, wishes and desires at the expense of your people. Use this time of fasting to focus my gratitude on you and my heart to those who suffer day in and day out across your world. Open up our eyes as a body to see the needs that you are laying plain before us. Give us the strength and courage to respond lavishly, selflessly, completely to the path you offer. May our rumbling stomachs remind us of those who have hunger pains but are not able to fill their bellies. Shake us out of our apathy and send us on a journey to wholeness. In Jesus, who knew hunger and knew wholeness both, Amen.
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