Bishops call us to give

Published: 31 July 2011

THE Australian Catholic Bishops Conference has echo-ed a call from Pope Benedict XVI as it urges the nation to come to the aid of the people of Africa (Page 3).

The bishops have asked parishes to make a special effort this weekend to pray for the people of East Africa facing the risk of starvation, and to support Caritas Australia's East Africa Crisis Appeal.

As it happens, the Gospel this Sunday is Matthew 14:13-21, the story of Jesus' miracle of the Loaves and the Fishes.

The crowd in the Gospel may not have been starving like the people in Africa but they would have been hungry, and the disciples wanted to send them away to buy food for themselves.

Jesus told the disciples to give the people food themselves. That's when he worked the miracle with all that they had - "seven loaves and a few small fish" - and fed the people. Jesus gives us the example to follow - give what we can, pray and trust in God's care.
PETER BUGDEN
Editor