Grace and "grace"

By Vernita Kennen, co-chair of the Saint Paul Area Synod Hunger Work Group

Do you and your family begin your meals by "saying grace?" Many of us do and most of us learned to do so in our families as we grew up. Perhaps you learned some new ways to thank God before meals while you were at a church camp. Or maybe you learned that there are additional verses to "Come Lord Jesus" when you used an ELCA World Hunger resource.

I have been wondering about the term "saying grace." It seems sort of an unusual way to describe what is most often thought of as giving thanks to God for the food before us and sometimes for those involved in growing, processing, distributing, and preparing it for us. The definition I learned in confirmation for grace is "unmerited love." How do you understand that thoroughly Lutheran concept?

"Saying grace" has had new meaning for me when I began considering why I should deserve the food on the table before me when others around the world are hungry? No, I don’t deserve or merit the food; it is total gift from God. It’s all grace, isn’t it? And then what does that gift compel me to do about those others who are hungry?

Budgets—and sheep and goats?

By Vernita Kennen, co-chair of the synod's Hunger Work Group

How are scripture, hunger issues, and budgets related? I recently received a copy of the Northeastern Minnesota Women of the ELCA newsletter that speaks to how we read scripture, hunger issues, and budgets. The writer, Judy, made a good connection for me. With her permission, I’d like to share some ideas from the article.

Re-read, carefully, Matthew 25: 31-40 (see below).

Pay attention to these aspects of the passage:

1. It is the nations that are gathered, and then the peoples are separated by some criteria;
2. The criteria are not based on biblical knowledge or theology;
3. The only criteria listed have to do with relating to people in need; and
4. Those deemed “righteous” have acted in accordance with the criteria, but don’t seem to realize that.

She wonders (as do I and perhaps you, too) if people would be more generous donors to the ELCA World Hunger program if we truly believed that feeding the hungry or housing the stranger or clothing those in need is giving to Jesus?

Our Saint Paul Area Synod giving to the ELCA World Hunger program was only $1.47 per baptized member during 2010. Who of us could manage on that amount for one day much less for an entire year? How generous are we really being today?

Judy reminds us that we, in a democracy, include programs in the budgets of our state and nation that focus help to those who are homeless, hungry, thirsty, sick, and in prison. If those programs are deeply cut, for whatever reasons, will we find ourselves not meeting the criteria for helping “the least of these brothers and sisters of mine?” In today’s world and economy, what does being a follower of Jesus demand of us who profess to be Christian and bear his name?

31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. 34Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ 37Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? 38And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? 39And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ 40And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’