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"What you do to the
least of these, you do to me"
... the Master Mind Jesus
As we in the United
States celebrate Thanksgiving this year, even with the war, the
hurricanes, tornadoes, and fires ... we still have much to be grateful
for. The original Thanksgiving was not religious or political, it
was about sharing. The Pilgrims shared with the Indians and the
Indians shared with the Pilgrims. The essence of this holiday is
to share. And there remains in our world a great many people who
would benefit from our sharing. The photo below taken in 1994,
gives us a stark reminder that this is so.
Each of us is called to give ... it is
expressing the nature of God within us to do so. I would never
presume to tell anyone how much to give or who to give to ... but, I
know without a doubt that giving leads to gratitude and a real sense of
thanksgiving within each of us.
But, there are many people who say,
"well, I pay taxes and my taxes take care of people" ... if
only this were so. Most of us could never imagine that the photo
above could be taken in the United States, the wealthiest country in the
world ... but, this year, hurricane Katrina gave us evidence in New
Orleans that this is very possible in this country. We
cannot depend on the government to "give for us" ... we must
take active responsibility for our own giving.
.... News item on Nov. 18, 2005 -
House votes to cut
$700 million in food stamps
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Friday
to cut $700 million from the food stamp program, despite objections from
anti-hunger groups complaining that estimates show some 235,000 people
would lose benefits. The House bill, which also trimmed other
social programs for the poor in an effort to reduce federal spending by
$50 billion, was narrowly approved 217-215. (end)
This
news item clearly shows that the republicans in the House easily forgot
the images of poverty that the world saw just a few short months ago.
Yes, they will give money to those things that they feel will benefit
them ... but, what they fail to realize is ... "what you do to the
least of these you do to me" ... in some way, shape or form, our
lack of giving will give us cause to lose our sense of thanksgiving.
Imagine how the GOP House members would feel if the photo above was
taken in the United States!
And
So It Is!
Letting
Love Use Me In Its Own Good Way,
Rev.
Bates
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