As I sat waiting for a traffic light to change, I noticed a drawn, gaunt little face looking down at me from a billboard. The eyes were deep-set and pleading. In big letters underneath this image were these words: "Feed the hungry children of the world." The light changed and I moved ahead, but carried with me the memory of those haunting, sad eyes. I thought, "What can I do?" Immediately the answer came: "I can pray. I can pray for the children of the world. "
Someone may well ask: "With so much poverty and starvation in some parts of today's world, don't we need something in addition to prayer? Don't we need to take specific human steps to alleviate the world's suffering?" Yes, but is it not vitally important to meet the world's spiritual needs? Is the human consciousness not hungry for spiritual enlightenment, as well? The many woes of the present hour are forcing humanity to search for deeper, more lasting solutions to its problems.
At the morning meal on the shore of Galilee, Christ Jesus showed himself a third time to the disciples after the resurrection. The impetuous disciple, Peter, was among them, and Jesus now gave him an opportunity to rectify his denial of association with him on the eve of the crucifixion. Jesus asked Peter, "Lovest thou me . . .?" When the disciple answered him in the affirmative, Jesus replied, "Feed my lambs." Asking the same question again, and getting further assurance of Peter's love, Jesus said, "Feed my sheep." When the Master asked the third time, "Lovest thou me?" Peter, being perplexed, said, "Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee." As if to drive home a lesson, Jesus repeated, "Feed my sheep." John 21:15-17.
