Just Some Thoughts from Fr. Larry

      Most Sunday mornings, as I am trying to make myself presentable for the eight o'clock mass, the radio is on and tuned to WSRS in Worcester. At 7AM on Sundays WSRS has a program called Worcester Speaks Out. Sometimes it gets my attention and sometimes it does not. A couple of Sundays ago, it definitely did get my attention.

      Since the station was preparing for its annual food drive to assist the Worcester County Food Bank, the interview that morning was with representatives of the Food Bank organization. I was in mid-swipe with my razor when I heard some statistics that stopped me cold.

      The representative said that during the past year the Worcester County Food Bank provided food to over 90,000 households. Because many are forced to request assistance more than once, over 400,000 requests were honored. And that is in Worcester County alone!!!!!!! Having been in mid-swipe, I am still amazed that I didn't cut myself.

      Since then I have been reminded that the unemployment rate is at 10%. I recall looking at the requests on our giving trees and finding so many for basic needs like warm winter clothing and help with utility bills and food.

      At the same time I hear reports about the millions being raked in by movies and the incredible amounts of money being spent to make these movies. I read about the Red Sox, the Mariners and the Angels pursuing Jason Bay and I can't help but wonder how many millions he will be offered before all is said and done.

       I did a little research and found that the NY Yankees 2009 salary budget was $201.4 million. The Boston budget was a little more modest at only $121,745,999. Add to that the millions wasted by big business and in government spending. And keep your eyes open to see what the cost will be per 30 seconds of advertising when the Super Bowl rolls around.

       So much money available to be spent and squandered and still we have numbers like those above from the Worcester County Food Bank.

       So what's the point of all this? Well, as Jesus pointed out, the poor are always with us. He didn't mean we should simply take that for granted. He was reminding us to be mindful of the poor and of the ways we can give witness to Him by our care and concern for them.

      We may not have the resources of conglomerates and banks, sports organizations and movie studios, government agencies and advertising firms. We do, however, have a mandate from Jesus Christ to care for the poor and for those in need.

      Perhaps, if we as a people spent a little less on sports and entertainment and waste, and became just a bit more aware of the poor among us, we might begin to eliminate poverty and hunger.

      Until that happens, however, we continue to do what we are doing. Please remember that the bag of food you bring to church and the donation you make to the New Day Fund each month along with the tags you take from the giving trees and the meals you help to prepare for programs like Peace of Bread are no small gesture.

      Certainly with money better used we could do more, but as it is, we continue to feed the hungry and care for those in need one person, one family, one loving step at a time.

       Peace, Fr. Larry