As longed-for rain fell in North Canterbury at new year, everything — sheep, grass, farmers, trees, gardeners, even campers — raised their heads in gratitude.

Relief as a substantial downpour unknotted the stranglehold of the El Niño weather along the east coast — for a while. I recalled Shakespeare’s imagery on Portia’s lips, of mercy “dropping as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath”. Both rain and mercy are gratuitous — we cannot control or manipulate them — and a single helping will not satisfy forever. While a mist is welcome in a drought, a soaking unleashes raucous dancing with all kinds of things gurgling into life. Newly dusted wheat plumps and ripens for harvest. Sheep, cattle and deer graze and fatten. Apricots, peaches and nectarines hang juicily. Kumara and potatoes glisten, and slugs party in the kitchen greens. We breathe with relief when food is secure once again.

And as we tend our seedlings of mercy through the rest of Lent into Easter in this Year of Mercy the theme of this issue invites reflection on how hunger affects our world, country, and neighbourhood — very unequally. During a TV commercial break we can be confronted by images of lines of refugees queuing for relief food, or starved by the opposing army, followed by a voluptuous cooking-show pantry from which a mere minuscule is plated. How do we deal with this desperate want and unconscionable excess? Our writers this month share their thinking and contributions towards feeding those who are hungry.

Some like Louise Carr-Neil, discuss the dilemma of food choices and of needing to delve into the shadows of food politics. Others like Deborah Manning and Marion Wood explain what drove them to act and how they maintain their enthusiasm for mission. Then Roger Ellis from Caritas outlines development programmes which support people in high risk areas to grow their own food. All speak of the community aspect of ensuring that there is food for all, of sleeves being rolled up, and of the sharing and receiving of wisdom.

And we acknowledge our reliance on the Bread of Life in the remembrance of Holy Thursday, and the resurrection of Easter. Brent McCauley, Daniel O’Leary, and Simon Rae prompt us to curb our too critical judgements, becoming instead soaked in mercy, rising with Christ from unhealthy, divisive, well-learned attitudes we’ve grown stout on over time, and to taste afresh the warm bread of mercy, of hospitality, inclusiveness — of life. They remind us of the hunger, deep in our spirit, satiated only by love — of our families, of our neighbour, of ourselves, and of Love Godself.

You’ll find much more in this 202nd issue, Feeding the Hungry. Once again we acknowledge with gratitude all who have contributed by thought, word, art, and craft. And as is our custom, the last word is of blessing.

Editorial. Tui Motu InterIslands Magazine, Issue 202 March 2016.