Spiritual Food Is Just Not Enough to Live By

SPIRITUAL FOOD IS JUST NOT ENOUGH TO LIVE BY​
Homily presented at St. Vincent de Paul Parish, Albany, NY
The 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A

    Recently, I received photos from family members in Texas. The parents and their two children were volunteering at a Food Bank Garden picking peppers, jalapeños and poblano. I wrote to them, “hurray for you!” The youngsters, I learned, were very excited about the idea of helping others get food.
    While preparing today’s homily I read that SNAP participation has dropped by over 4 million people since stricter rules took effect in July 2025. Millions lost food stamp access as a result of legislative policy changes. 
    The Food Pantries for the (Albany,  NY) Capital District reported recently that from 2024 to 2025 those who received assistance rose by 10.5%. Advocacy groups say there will be further reductions in SNAP benefits through the fall. 
    Our parish life director, Elizabeth Simcoe, reported to us at the beginning of today’s Mass, the numbers of families and individuals served by our Pantry this past month. The amount of hungry individuals and households will continue to rise.
    The biblical texts this weekend invite us: to think about food insecurity, the vagaries of government programs, and our own responsibilities. The passages are helpful as we ponder just how does God fit into this national quagmire and how can we help by doing our part.
    In the first reading (Is 55:1-3) the prophet Isaiah is preparing the people for the end of their exile and their return to Jerusalem. They were tired, impatient, angry and hungry. He promises them food and drink for the journey at no cost! 
    Free food? But there was a stipulation. The people had to follow God’s commands. OK. That was then. How is God taking care of those who hunger and thirst today, whose SNAP benefits will be severely reduced?
    In the gospel, Matthew (14:13-21) the familiar parable is reminiscent of Elisha’s feeding miracle found in the Second Book of Kings. (4:42-44) The text reads that Jesus was grieving over the death of his cousin John the Baptist and just wanted some time off to reflect. But when he saw the large crowd who followed him he rose to the occasion.
    In this story of sharing the abundance of the earth, Jesus tells his followers YOU give them something to eat. This is how God feeds the hungry today. God wants us to share what we have with others.
    The passage from Paul to the Romans (8:35, 37-39) says that God is ready to help us in our hour of need. The reading also claims there is nothing on earth strong enough to separate us from God’s grip. The Psalm (145:8-9,15-18) affirms our covenant with God. If we keep the commandments of God — love God and our neighbors — the hand of God will feed us and answer all our needs.
    Sure, we could blame the government for food insecurity. But, we know that many governments are structurally inefficient or, at worst, corrupt — taking care of those who already have too much while ignoring those who have little.
    The power to make a difference in our communities is right here, right now, around this holy table. Our celebration of the Eucharistic banquet engages us in the mission of Christ. When we share in communion we not only connect with Jesus Christ but also with one another.
    But, as we share the bread from heaven and the cup of eternal joy, we know that spiritual food is not enough to actually live on. We also know that the strength we gain from this Eucharistic meal helps us share our abundances with others.
    Pope Leo 14 provides a link between our liturgy, the blessing of bread to feed the multitudes in the gospel and our responsibilities. In his new encyclical (Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence) the Pope wrote: “The Eucharist opens us to justice and sharing, with a preferential concern for those who are burdened by poverty or marginalization.”
    It is our calling then to help others. And, research tells us that volunteering is a good thing. It is associated with better mental, physical and cognitive health. Other studies add that children who volunteer are less likely to experience anxiety and behavioral problems as they grow up.
    There are many people here in this parish and elsewhere who are already doing good work to sustain others not only in the Food Pantry but in other ministries . We are grateful for this collaborative effort that unites people from all walks of life. It helps us to  become more aware of people around us who need food.
    My family members in Texas are continuing to pick vegetables at the Food Bank Garden. I have since learned that both Marlowe, 9 years old and Bobby, almost 13, now have decided they want to meet and greet the people who come to get their groceries. 

SOURCES:

“SNAP Tracker: People are Losing Food Assistance….” Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. https://www.cbpp.org/research/food-assistance/snap-tracker-people-are-losing-food-assistance-as-the-republican-megabill

Abe, Mirai. Albany Times Union “Food Insecurity Rates Rise in the Capital Region….” July 30, 2026, C1-2.

Magnifica Humanitas - Pope Leo XIV Encyclical on Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence. https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html

On Isaiah
https://sermonwriter.com/biblical-commentary-old/isaiah-551-13-commentary/

On Romans
https://sermonwriter.com/biblical-commentary-old/romans-835-39/

On Matthew
https://sermonwriter.com/biblical-commentary-old/matthew-1413-21/

Volunteering and Mental Health in Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/well-read/202507/volunteering-and-mental-health