Thoughts for the Day

Jesus said, 'So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!'

(Church in Wales Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

There are adults and children in our world who are hungry across the globe. In the United Kingdom, we might not expect to find hungry children, but it is particularly difficult at the moment because of higher fuel prices, the removal of £20 to those on benefits, and the disappearance of the furlough scheme.

In our reading today Jesus says we should ask God for help, and his Heavenly Father will give us His Holy Spirit, that is the power of God will act. When a family is hungry and cannot afford to buy food for whatever reason, they may ask God for help. Often they will search out a charity and knock on their door. But charities of course rely on all of us to support them. Charities can only answer the knock on their door if the Holy Spirit has energised us to be generous.

Last week I spoke to our local food bank (Pembrokeshire Action to Combat Hardship - PATCH) who are being inundated with requests for food, in a way they have not seen before. It may well be the same in your area. 'Give twice' is a project to raise money for food banks. It is simple, and anonymous:

• Invite your family and friends to spend only half the usual money on your Christmas present this year
• Ask them to give the other half of the money to a food bank.

They will be giving twice - to a loved one, and also to someone unknown. As our Heavenly Father gives to us may we give to others in need!

Heavenly Father,
You provide us with all that is needed
to feed the people of our world,
but all to often we squander
or mismanage its production.
Help us to be generous to those
who cannot feed themselves or their families,
as you are generous to us.
Amen.