Words offered by our OCPM Representative Dcn. Michael Schlaack on OCPM Sunday
The miraculous feeding the multitudes as recorded in all four of the Gospels were acts of mercy that demonstrate to us that God cares for our bodies as well as our souls. Unlike some philosophical beliefs, we see our body as more than just a disposable container made to restrict our soul by keeping us planted in this world. As Orthodox Christians we understand that the body and the soul are together integral parts of our very being as children of God, who are created in His own image. Therefore, the feeding of both the body and the soul is critical to the wellbeing of every person.
It is unfortunate, but sometimes we, even as followers of Christ, fail to consider the basic needs of our fellow man. In the Gospel of Matthew, we hear how after a long day of dealing with the crowd of people who came to be taught and healed by Jesus, the disciples made a very practical request of their Master: “’This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food’” (Matt. 14:15). In the worldly sense, there was nothing that could be done in such a “desert place” to adequately care for the thousands of men, women and children who had come to the shore of Galilee to be taught and healed. Jesus and His disciples had sought out this location as a place to rest and to get away from the rest of the world, but as so often happens, the world followed them. Although Christ’s message was not received in His own hometown, it was accepted and believed in the deserted places of the world, and as a result those in these least hospitable places received the blessings that were not available to the unbelieving (Matt. 13:57, 58).
Sometimes we can forget that Jesus came to save everyone, even those who are not already members of our own faith tradition. The Great Physician came especially for those who are sick and in need of spiritual as well as physicalhealing (Luke 5:31), so we, too should be looking out for those who need to be fed in the place where they are. In some cases, people cannot leave to seek out the physical and spiritual food their bodies and souls need. This is especially for the men and women in the jails and prisons throughout our country. Many of them are seeking to fill their spiritual needs but are unable to leave the deserted place where they live. It would be easy for us to simply say, “Go somewhere else to get your spiritual nourishment. There are too many of you behind bars for us to successfully minister to with our limited resources.” Even though our response may seem practical, it is by no means Christian.
Like the multitude in today’s Gospel lesson, the people in our prison systems are also seeking the physical and spiritual healing that can only come through Christ. The Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry (OCPM) is dedicated to seeing that the men and women who are incarcerated in our nation’s prisons are not being neglected of spiritual food. The OCPM provides inmates with personal spiritual reading materials as well as icon cards. Members of the OCPM are also working with the prison the prison staff to acquaint the local chaplains with the work of the ministry and provide them with various books that can be included in the prison libraries. Besides the printed materials, several members of the Genesee County Orthodox Christian parishes are actively participating in written correspondences with inmates across the country, providing them with a non-judgmental, compassionate connection to the outside world.
Over the years, the local efforts of the OCPM have produced fruit for the heavenly Kingdom. Several current and former inmates have turned their lives over to Christ, with some of them continuing their path to Orthodoxy. Through the correspondence ministry, members of our parish have been able to put their faith in practice by spreading the love of Christ to strangers who are incarcerated. Through the OCPM we are all able to live out Christ’s words: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets” (Matt. 22:37-40).
Put simply, our love for God is demonstrated and lived through the love we show for others. Loving those who may appear to the world as being the most unlovable actualizes our lives as Christians. “Feeding the multitudes” is a basic tenet of the Christian faith that has been commanded by Christ up to the very last days of His earthly ministry. Jesus confronted Peter and told him to demonstrate his love for his Master by feeding and caring for His “sheep” (John 21:15-17). And this same imperative has always considered to be our directive as well. If we are known to be Christians by our love for one another (John 13:35), then certainly that love can be extended to those the members of Christ’s flock who we do not know, especially for those “invisible sheep” who serving time in the prisons across our country. Out of sight should never mean out of mind; if we are to live our faith then we must also care for brothers and sisters who are incarcerated and seeking Christian fellowship.
There are simple things that we can do that extends our love to our brothers and sisters behind bars. One of the easiest things to do is to write a letter. This does not have to be a long essay or filled with complicated theology. As long as the correspondence is heartfelt and sincere, the small gesture will help bring some hope and brightness to a dismal world. We can also share our financial blessings by contributing to the OCPM so that they can continue to reach out to those men and women who are incarcerated. And, of course, we should always be in prayer for those who are in prison, “for captives and their salvation.”
The OCPM chose Silas as its patron saint because of his experience being incarcerated and having to rely on God for his strength and deliverance. After being accused of inciting a riot in the city of Philippi, Saints Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison. During their midnight prayers, an earthquake broke down the prison cell door and loosed the chains that bound the saints. The prison guards, fearing the Paul and Silas escaped their charge were prepared to commit suicide but were dissuaded by the saints who remained in their opened prison cell. The prison guards accepted Christ and were baptized. Saints Paul and Silas continued their missionary journeys, making new converts to Christ and establishing churches in the cities along the way. St. Silas would be consecrated as bishop of Philippi where he would continue to serve the Lord until the end of his life on earth.
On Orthodox Christian Prison Ministry, let us renew our commitment to obey Christ’s charge given to St. Peter to feed His sheep. This is our opportunity to put our faith in action by reaching out in some small way to those men and women who are incarcerated but still in need of someone to extend a hand in Christian fellowship. It may not be possible to save the entire prison population, but you do have the opportunity to at least reach one man or one woman who is thirsting for the living water (John 4:10) that only a life in Christ can provide. The feeding of the bodies and souls of everyone needs to be our continued mission here on earth so that we may remain true to Christ’s commandment and demonstrate our love for all of God’s creation.