After returning to the United States, I still have Peru on my mind, especially a conversation with a group of Peruvian doctors. They told me about the range of problems they see in their patients - physical, emotional and social difficulties which are often related to economic troubles. Then one of the doctors asked this question: Why is Peru poor and the United States rich? After twenty-five years going back and forth between the U.S. and Peru, I have heard lots of theories, but no real answer.* Still, it seems to me there is a deeper question: Why is anyone poor?

Considering Peru's abundant resources and relatively small population, its poverty is paradoxical. By comparison we Americans enjoy enormous wealth, yet few of us say we have enough. My own generation possessed much more than our parents did, yet we said we could not afford children.

Today's readings address this paradox. Isaiah speaks about the abundance which God provides - grains, wine, milk - enough to satisfy everyone. Still, we are not satisfied. Like Jesus' disciples, we fear hunger; we want to send needy people away, get them out of our sight. Jesus takes a different approach. He gives thanks to the Father, blesses the bread, breaks it and distributes it. With Jesus there is more than enough for all.

There is a great mystery here. Somehow the prosperity of an individual, a family, a nation is tied to Jesus' command, "give them some food yourselves." That is, trusting in the Father's abundance and sharing what we have with others. When we celebrate the Eucharist, we imitate the actions of Jesus - thank, bless, divide and share:

All you who are thirsty,
come to the water!
You who have no money,
come, receive grain and eat;
Come, without paying and without cost,
drink wine and milk!

**********