Farmer

October 16, 2016

“The most significant change brought about through the industrialization of farming and the green revolution in the ’60s is the gradual and insidious alienation of seeds from the farmers. So we don’t have our native seeds and we are almost totally dependent on company seeds, which include hybrid and GM seeds.”

These are the words of Rev. Thomas John, a PC(USA) mission co-worker in India, who works on the Chethana Seed Saving Campaign. Chethana is a network of grassroots organizations in South India working against hunger and poverty, and is a partner of the Joining Hands ministry of the Presbyterian Hunger Program. Chethana fights for food sovereignty for some of the most vulnerable members of society, for people’s right to produce nutritious, affordable, culturally appropriate, and environmentally sustainable food in their communities.

Chethana understands why, in a world with more than enough arable land, there are still so many hungry in India and 795 million hungry people globally: control over seeds and farming, plus poverty. Therefore, Chethana’s priorities are to take back control over seeds through networks of seed savers, and to employ farming practices that produce abundant food.

World Food Day is our opportunity to stand in solidarity with our brothers and sister around the world to raise awareness about poverty and people-driven approaches to ending hunger. Together our voices can make a difference—for families struggling to make ends meet, for farmers and workers in the field, and for communities around the world for whom this is a life-and-death issue.

As we celebrate World Food Day, it is incumbent for us as Christians to join with others to seek justice and to restore God’s creation. Let us do everything we can to ensure that communities at home and abroad are able to provide fresh, healthy, affordable food for themselves. Find ways to support Chethana and take action here:  www.pcusa.org/foodweek

Lori Hylton, Hunger Action Advocate for Hudson River Presbytery

Today’s Focus: World Food Day

Let us join in prayer for:

PC(USA) Agencies’ Staff

Suzi Gwinn, PILP
Debbie Haag, FDN

Let us pray

Dear God, we pray for wisdom to reject the idea that we can have enough for ourselves only if others do without. We pray that each of us is able to recognize and be grateful for the abundance that you have laid out for us. We pray for your guidance and grace.

Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, October 16, 2016, the Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

First Reading Jeremiah 31:27-34
Psalm 119:97-104
Second Reading 2 Timothy 3:14-4:5
Gospel Luke 18:1-8