“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” – Matthew 25:37-40
In the book Bagels from Benny, Benny is a young Jewish boy who works at his grandfather’s Bagel shop each morning before he goes to school. Every day, when the shop-goers thank his grandfather for the Bagels, he replies “Why Thank me?” Benny in childlikeness asks his grandfather, “Why shouldn’t Mrs. Green thank you? You make the bagels.” Grandfather replies, “Aren’t the bagels made with flour? Doesn’t the flour come from wheat? Wheat comes from the earth? And who made the earth?” “God did” Benny replies. “Then we thank God for the Bagels.”
Benny verbally thanks God for the bagels, but God didn’t verbally respond, so Benny begins to wonder if he should thank God another way. He asks grandpa if he can start being paid for his work at the shop with a bag of bagels, but where he is taking the bagels is a secret. Benny is taking the bagels to the Synagogue and is placing them inside the Ark of the Covenant so God can taste his bagels that he helps create. The bagels are gone the following Saturday and Benny is pleased that God enjoyed the bagels.
This goes on for a few weeks until one day his grandfather follows him. Grandpa sees what Benny is doing and they converse for a few minutes about how God doesn’t have a stomach or a body and can’t eat the bagels, when suddenly they hear someone enter the synagogue. In walks a tattered man, who takes the bagels from the Ark. He thanks the Lord saying, “You fed me for weeks when I was hungry and sent such beautiful bagels from Heaven. I have found work, and no longer need you to feed me. You can stop baking the bagels now. I promise to help others as you have helped me.”
Benny is visibly upset after he sees the man leave because God didn’t eat his bagels. Grandpa soothes and encourages him by explaining that he did thank God, because he fed a hungry man, and he made the world a little better in doing so. What better thanks could God receive?
We love the book, Bagels from Benny at our house. It reminds us that if we want to build a better world, we can start by caring for our neighbors. When we feed the hungry and care for those who need help, we offer our gratitude to God for all that we have. When we live from a spirit of gratitude, knowing that God has given us so much, there is no limit to how we share God’s love and bring hope to our world.
– Mandi Coleman, Director of St. Luke’s Children Center
