“I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (John 6:51).
Mrs. Bertha Adams was seventy-one years old when she died alone in West Palm Beach, Florida on Easter Sunday 1976. The coroner’s report read, “Cause of death…malnutrition.” After wasting away to fifty pounds she could no longer stay alive.
When the state authorities made their preliminary investigation of her home, they found a veritable “pigpen…the biggest mess you can imagine.” One seasoned inspector declared he had never seen a dwelling in greater disarray.
Bertha had begged food at her neighbors’ doors and had gotten what clothes she had from the Salvation Army. From all appearances she was a penniless recluse – a pitiful and forgotten widow.
But such was not the case!
Amid the jumble of her filthy, disheveled belongings were found two keys to safe-deposit boxes at two different local banks. The discovery was unbelievable. The first box contained over 700 AT&T stock certificates, plus hundreds of other valuable notes, bonds, and solid financial securities, not to mention cash amounting to $200,000. The second box had no certificates, just cash – $600,000 to be exact. And, this is in 1976!!!
Bertha Williams was a multi-millionaire! Yet she died of starvation!
How does something like that happen?
Yet it does all the time. Disciples have been given God’s word to feast on, God’s Holy Spirit to guide and direct, and the privilege to pray. God has given to disciples everything we need to thrive in God’s kingdom. But too many are starving, dying. And this is totally unnecessary. It is tragic.
Thank you for taking the time to read these verses of the day. Thank you for taking the time to pray.
Keep at it!
Praxis: Faith in Action 
I think that faith must also be made up of actions. Let me explain better: I see many people here who go to church, who pray, but then I also see homeless people on the street, families who live in cars, so I wonder what’s wrong, why all the people who talk about faith is not there to help them. I don’t have much faith, even though I grew up in a Catholic family, I’m Italian, but I always prefer to act rather than speak. Of course I also pray but I don’t pray for myself, I pray for others, that’s why sometimes I ask for prayers for me, because I’m not good at making myself heard by God. I pray for everyone’s peace and serenity. Greetings from Italy.
Thank you for taking the time to comment. You are absolutely correct in observing a disconnect between one’s faith and one’s deeds. When faith doesn’t impact how we live such a faith is worthless. What’s the point? At the same time, good deeds without purpose is also aimless. Who or what defines good? Good for whom? Our world is transformed and made better when faith is lived out in actions.
In the particular situation with homelessness…I confess I struggle with that same thing. We have many homeless. We have ministries that reach out to the homeless ranging from short-term solutions (food, blankets, clothing, etc.) to helping people get off the streets. One of the biggest challenges we run into is that the majority of the people who are on the streets are also dealing with mental health and addictions which prevent them from getting the help they need. Until we can figure out as a society how to help people with mental health issues and addictions, we will continue to struggle with homelessness.
Again, great to hear from you. Greetings from the US!