Monday, April 23, 2012

Feeding Bodies Nourishes Souls

Still they stood there doubting, filled with joy and wonder. Then he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” -- Luke 24:41

They were not expecting to see Jesus. They were discussing His horrible death and all that had happened as they walked toward Emmaus. Jesus was dead. They knew He was. But there He was, in front of them. How could that be?

They doubted. Of course, they doubted. Jesus was dead. How could He be alive? And, yet, their Lord talked with them. He showed them His hands and feet. And then He asked them for food and He ate. He wasn’t a ghost. He was real. Jesus was alive.

Jesus taught His disciples and other followers. He quoted the Scriptures and told them parables to help them understand. But Jesus also cared for their bodies. His first recorded miracle was to turn water into wine. He fed the masses with fish and bread.

It’s far easier sometimes to focus on the spiritual. Truly. Because we can quote Scripture, pray and be on our way. But that wasn’t how Jesus showed us we should live. He cared about the spiritual, of course. But Jesus also cared about our physical needs. So should we.

Many years ago I observed an organization geared to helping homeless teens. The vans would head out shortly after dark, patrolling a seedy area filled with prostitution and drugs. The workers offered free sandwiches and a beverage. No strings attached.

It was a good thing. Most of these kids were hiding. One young man told me the streets were safer than his “home.” Many of the others had similar stories. Oh, sure. I’m certain that a few runaways came from wonderful homes. But most left horrible situations. Authorities would merely try to reunite the family, even if that meant more harm to the teen.

So this organization met the teens where they were. They understood that someone hungry, someone afraid, someone who learned early not to trust adults, wouldn’t respond to a sermon. At least not at first. So they fed their bodies and gave them a friendly smile and encouraging word.

The teens were offered a spot in the group’s shelter. They certainly had people to pray with them and for them. But mostly they learned about Jesus from the hands and feet of those who fed their bodies.

We’d rather turn our time and attention to something that’s easy. I doubt riding in a van throughout the night, looking for runaway teens in seedy areas of town was easy. But those folks showed many, many teens the face of Jesus as they provided nourishment for souls by first feeding bodies.