A Culture of Giving
By Reverend Andy Fleming, Chaplain
You may be aware of the Anglicare Winter Appeal, which Radford is supporting St John's Care through. The Winter Appeal culminates with a Christmas in July themed non-uniform day this Friday, organised by RAS students. Students across the College continually offer support to a wide range of areas in the community. Whether it is through the service-learning program or a student-led initiative, there is a culture of giving among our students. There is some semblance here to the practice of gleaning detailed in the Old Testament.
Gleaning is first mentioned in the Bible in Leviticus 19.9-10, “When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner.” This law required the Israelites who owned and farmed the land to provide for the poor and foreigners, as well as widows and orphans. In practice, the Israelite landowners left the corners of their fields and any grain or barley that fell to the ground during harvest. The poor would then be permitted to gather what they needed.
The best illustration of gleaning in the Bible is found in Ruth. Ruth is both a widow and a foreigner, having followed her mother-in-law, Naomi, back to Israel after the death of her husband. Ruth’s story is one of courage and resilience, of faith and love. She goes to the fields of a prominent rich man, named Boaz, to glean for Naomi to ensure they have enough to eat. In a time when people looked out for their own, it was a most unusual circumstance for a foreigner to leave their country to care for someone from another culture. Boaz learns that Ruth is from another country and is caring for Naomi, who happens to be related to him through marriage. He is both touched and impressed by Ruth, making her efforts to glean easier.
As there was in Ruth's time, there continues to be a need in our community as people are unable to meet their needs and that of their family. And like Boaz and our students, there are those in our community who practice gleaning. Ronni Kahn AO founded OzHarvest in 2004. She saw the large amount of food going to waste and decided it could go to those in need. After starting out in a van and delivering food to charities, OzHarvest has since grown into a nationwide service that not only provides surplus food to charities, but also provides education about sustainability, food waste and security.
Click on this link to find more information on the Christmas in July Anglicare Winter Appeal.
May you find God’s peace in the week ahead,
Rev. Andy