“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this Kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why: I was hungry and you fed Me, I was thirsty and you gave Me a drink, I was homeless and you gave Me a room, I was shivering and you gave Me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to Me.’” (Matthew 25: 34-36 The Message)
The month of November marks Hunger and Homeless Awareness Month. It is an annual program in which people join across the country to draw attention to the problems of hunger and homelessness. Did you know that in the United States, 43.1 million Americans live below the poverty-line? Of those, one in five are children living in poverty, and over a half-million have nowhere to sleep at night (National Day Calendar).
During these times of COVID-19, there are even more folks at risk. People are struggling with job loss, access to food and hygiene products, COVID exposure, and paying their rent. People are suffering, scared, and anxious.
Here is our invitation to live out our faith as Christians and to embrace our Wesleyan tradition of social holiness:
give non-perishable food to a local food pantry or food bank, prepare food baskets to safely deliver (you best know the how and who of this), be a church “drop-off” site for hygiene products for distribution in the community,
donate to your local church to support an “adopt a family,” become courageous: send a letter, or make a phone call to your legislative representative requesting that the homeless and hungry not be forgotten, discover the spiritual benefits of your actions, giving God praise and glory for your ministry and mission celebrate through song, “Cuando El Pobre” “(When the Poor Ones”), United Methodist Hymnal #434.
Let us pray: Lord of abundance, we earnestly seek to love and give at Your invitation. May we seek Your justice and love in our actions, and by living out our faith. May we be examples of Your love to a hungry world. May we fill up on Your goodness. May we recognize You in each other as beloved. Amen.
May this devotion provide you with a moment of faithful reflection and care. You are involved in ministries of justice and witness, in ministries of standing up and standing with people working to create better systems and communities, in ministries of learning and searching and researching to become more aware and awakened, more technologically savvy and proficient, more virtually and personally present in your churches and communities and world. Each of us who serve as members of your Wisconsin Cabinet write these devotions in grateful prayer for you – for sustenance and buoyancy, for strength and courage, for safety and just actions, and for faith and love to be full and fulfilled in your daily lives. God’s grace and blessings, God’s challenge and healthy discomfort, God’s Spirit and energy be with you, in the hope Christ offers us all.