Day 13: Mar. 13

Sharing Bread, End of Poverty

- from Rev. Chris Shorow

Back in the days when I was a youth minister, I had my group participate in a World Hunger Meal. During this event, the students were assigned to groups representing different portions of the world's population. The wealthiest 20% were served steak, loaded potatoes, seasoned vegetables, gourmet salad, and clam chowder, all with garlic bread. The 20% middle class were served soup and sandwiches, the 27% poor were given rice, beans, and a little bread, while the bottom 33% had to make do with a piece of bread and some water. This was done to sensitize them to the reality of hunger in our world. It was interesting to see how quickly people became uncomfortable with the situation. Prior to the event, the kids were not informed of what was to happen, they were simply told to come and eat at the church.

The 10 kids on the bottom were complaining— “This isn’t fair!” and “I’m hungry,” and the classic youth complaint, “You’re so mean!” The two on the stage were having a great time and rubbing it in to the others. Most of the middle class just watched and laughed while the others argued.

Afterward, as we reflected on the experience, it was obvious that this had been an effective way to visualize the reality of our world that we don’t see every day. When we discussed the distribution of resources, the kids noted that I hadn’t said they couldn’t share—they simply chose not to share. There was plenty of food for everyone, but some got a lot more than others, just like in our world.

Only the statistics are much more alarming today than they were in 1990. Today, 1% of the world’s population controls 46% of the wealth. The following 11% hold 39% of the wealth, and 33% control 14%. That leaves 55% of the world living off of 1% of the world’s resources. (Wealth Group, Credit Suisse, 2021) Alarming indeed, especially with the rise of the ultra-rich in our world.

The Apostle Paul criticized the church in Corinth for how they ate meals together. Much like the hunger meal, some wealthier Christians feasted while the poorer members went hungry. He said, “In this matter, I do not commend you.” Paul said there was a right and wrong way to come to the table. “For all who eat and drink without discerning the body, eat and drink judgment against themselves. (I Cor. 11:29) It is clear from what Paul is saying that they were not recognizing and honoring Christ in their fellow Christians. He told them to treat each other with generosity and hospitality, just as you would treat Jesus.

Paul felt that the rich were making a mockery of the Eucharist. Discerning the body of Christ was impossible if one ignored the hungry.

In his book Rich Christians in an Age of Hunger, author Ron Sider puts it this way. “As long as any Christian anywhere in the world is hungry, the eucharistic celebration of all Christians everywhere in the world is imperfect.”

Can we solve world hunger at our church? No, but we can address hunger issues in our community. This is our responsibility as followers of Christ, which we take seriously during Lent.