Famine

Homily for Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

The first paragraph of today’s reading from the Book of Genesis mentions the word “famine” three times. When we read that word, we immediately think of a lack of food; indeed, that is one kind of famine and was the kind of famine that was being experienced in Egypt at the time of Joseph.

However, there have been many other things lacking in the family of Jacob and his twelve sons. Throughout the story about Joseph, we have seen a lack of sensitivity to the other brothers by Joseph and by Jacob. There has been a lack of patience and forbearance by the brothers toward Joseph. Perhaps, most important of all, there has been a lack of honesty on the part of the older sons toward their grieving father.

Whenever something is lacking, we can always identify what is needed. Since we all know how this story of Joseph and his father Jacob will end, we can also identify how God filled their need of food, sensitivity, patience, and forbearance. God fills their needs through mercy.

During the time of Jesus, there has also been a kind of famine among the people of Israel. They lacked charity toward their neighbor as well as obedience to God’s law. The Pharisees lack good judgment and engage in rash judgment of Jesus’ motives. Jesus tries to fill the needs of the people by curing the sick, healing the wounded, and expelling demons.

At the opening of today’s Gospel reading, Matthew tells us that Jesus bestows upon his apostles the gifts that he has been exercising throughout his ministry – the gifts of cures, healings, and the expulsion of demons. The evangelist makes certain that we understand that they have been given the ability to cure illnesses and diseases of every kind. The Greek word that we translate here as “cure” is the root word for therapy. This implies layers of meaning. The apostles have been told to cure, to heal, and perhaps more importantly, to serve these people.

You and I have not been given the ability to cure illnesses and diseases. We are not healers in the medical sense of the word. However, we can all serve the needs of one another. We can all fill up what is lacking in most situations by simply turning to the gifts of the Holy Spirit which we have all received through the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation.

It may seem that this is too great a task, but we begin with the specific famine in front of us or that which most deeply moves our heart, and we take different paths and different approaches in bringing about God’s healing power. As St. Francis of Assisi told his companions on his deathbed: “I have done what was mine to do; may Christ now teach you what you are to do.”