Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

When we were raising our children it was rare to sit down to a quiet meal. Jerry will tell you that with five women he hardly ever had a moment to speak. Dinner was always together around the table and as the girls grew the time there did as well; thoughts and ideas tossed around. As sons-in–law and then grandchildren were added the noise and conversation became more lively. This group has many differences; faith, occupations, professions, economic status, and size of families. These are my five-thousand. And though there is no scarcity of food, there is often a lack of understanding and tolerance between them. They come here though time and again to be fed, not just with food, but the connection of family. They gather at our table with Jerry and I at each end and we continue to teach. They sit and listen and are satisfied. And when the meal is finished, the leftovers divided into containers for each family, it is not about what their baskets hold, but what has nourished their hearts and what they give to each other. The goodness and Love of God.