Pope at Angelus: ‘don't waste
food, don’t be indifferent to the world's cry of hunger’
Reflecting on the parable of the multiplication of the
loaves and fish, Pope Francis said the Gospel invites us to be "open and
industrious” in the face of humanity’s “cry” of hunger. He also invited those
present not to waste the resources of the world and to promote programmes of
development, not destruction.
By Linda Bordoni
Pope Francis’ address to the crowds gathered in
stifling St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, stemmed from his
reflection on the Gospel reading of the day that tells the story of the
multiplication of the loaves and fish.
Gospel reading
Jesus and his apostles possessed but a few coins, the Pope
said, while a great crowd had followed them up the mountain near the shores of
the Sea of Galilee. It was there that a young man, led by Andrew, came forward
and offered all he had: five loaves and two fish.
“He was a courageous boy” the Pope said, moved by compassion
and the need to do something for others.
“Young people are like that, they have courage” he said, we
must help them to continue being courageous.
Jesus attentive to the needs of people
Commenting on how, despite the difficulties, “Jesus took the
loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them and also as much of the fish as they
wanted ", Pope Francis said this shows “Jesus is attentive to the primary
needs of people”.
The episode, he said, stems from a concrete fact: the people
are hungry and Jesus involves his disciples so that this hunger may be
satisfied.
But, the Pope continued, Jesus did not limit himself to
this: “he offered his Word, his consolation, his salvation, and finally his
life” but he also took care of food for the body.
The proclamation of Christ calls for a commitment to
solidarity
As disciples of Christ, Pope Francis said, “we must turn a
blind eye:” Only by listening to the simplest requests of people and by placing
ourselves next to their concrete existential situations, can we be listened to
when speaking of higher values”.
We are instruments, he said, of God’s love for humanity that
is “hungry for bread, for freedom, for justice, for peace, and above all for
His divine grace, which never fails”.
Therefore, Francis said, the Gospel invites us to be
available and industrious, just like that boy who only had five loaves but
offered them.
“Faced with the cry of hunger - all sorts of “hunger” – of
so many of our brothers and sisters throughout the world, we cannot remain
detached and calm spectators. The proclamation of Christ, the bread of eternal
life, requires a generous commitment of solidarity for the poor, the weak, the
last, and the defenseless. This action of proximity and charity is the best
test of our faith, both at the personal level, and as a community” he said.
Plea not to waste the world’s resources
Pope Francis then commented on how after the crowd was fed
and satisfied, Jesus ordered the apostles to “Gather the fragments left over,
so that nothing will be wasted.”
And he appealed to all not to waste the food that is over.
“What do you do at home with the lunch you haven’t eaten? Do
you throw it away? No! If you have this habit, I give you a suggestion: talk to
your grandparents who lived through the post-war period, and ask them what they
were doing with their left-over food. (…) This is advice and also a call to
examine one’s conscience” he said.
Yes to development programmes no to armaments and war
Pope Francis concluded with a final prayer to Our Lady so
that programmes and initiatives dedicated to development, to the eradication of
hunger, to solidarity may prevail - not those of hatred, armaments and war.
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