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May 5, 2014

The scene of a hungry crowd moved Jesus to ask his disciple where they could buy food to feed the people. Jesus had pity on the people because they persisted to follow him for they saw that he cured the sick. Were these people hungry for the words of the Lord to move them to look for him or follow him? Listening to the conversation of Jesus and his disciples, one might ask: why was Jesus concerned with feeding the crowd? By feeding them can he be assured of this crowd’s fidelity to him? Even during the time of Jesus, people were attracted to material satisfaction. We elect in office those who can give us material things with an expectation that they will provide for our needs.

The boy who had brought food for himself was an instrument by which Jesus fed the hungry crowd. Let us contemplate on the boy who gave his provision so that everyone can have a share. How old was the boy? Was he there with his mother or father? Why was he there? Did he offer his bread and fish right away? Or did they have to force him? If that boy had been selfish and had not shared his food, the multiplication of the loaves and fish would not have happened. For what he did, say a thank you prayer to the boy.

Can we act as that boy in our day to day life? Our tendency is to keep things for ourselves as tested when calamities happen. The leaders of our Catholic charities call our attention to come out and share what we have to help the victims. Many do not want to part with things they have, even if they have much. Or we give away things we do not like or are useless to us – anyway, the poor can use our unwanted things. That is our mentality. But do they deserve only our useless things? Did the boy give away his food because he had no use for it? No, he was hungry himself, but he wanted to share with others who were as hungry as he was.
Lord, make us understand that we have a responsibility to our brothers and sisters and we need to look after one another’s welfare. Pray the Prayer for Generosity.

One Bread, One Body

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All Issues > Volume 30, Issue 3

<< Monday, May 5, 2014 >>

Acts 6:8-15
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Psalm 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30

John 6:22-29
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WHY ME, OR WHY I?

"I assure you, you are not looking for Me because you have seen signs but because you have eaten your fill of the loaves." —John 6:26

The crowd asked Jesus: "When did You come here?" (Jn 6:25) They meant: "How did you come here?" However, Jesus answered neither of their questions. Instead, Jesus posed His own question: "Why did the crowd come here?" Jesus answered His own question by telling the crowd that they came for the self-centered reason of getting "perishable food" rather than the "food that remains unto life eternal" (Jn 6:27).

We frequently ask the Lord the questions "When?" and "How?". We even ask Him why He does what He does and why He permits evil. "Why?" is often a better question to ask than "When?" or "How?". However, instead of asking God "Why?", we should ask ourselves:

Why do we live, work, or pray?
Why don't we do everything for the glory of God? (1 Cor 10:31)
Why are we living in confusion, working in slavery, and talking to ourselves about ourselves and calling it "prayer"?
Why do we go to Mass on Sunday?
If we go in order to worship and love the Lord, then why wouldn't we go to Mass on other days?
Why are many of us keeping our faith to ourselves?

Ask the risen Jesus to search your heart (Ps 139:23) and tell you why you are what you are and do what you do.

Prayer: Father, "bring to light what is hidden in darkness and manifest the intentions of hearts" (1 Cor 4:5).

Promise: Stephen "was a man filled with grace and power, who worked great wonders and signs among the people." —Acts 6:8

Praise: Jesus healed Ricardo of alcoholism and repaired a serious division in his marriage.