Gospel Reflections for July 29 2018
Jesus sees what we often miss.
Our Lord speaks to several thousand people in today’s Gospel …but they are hungry and most have no food. The Apostles notice not only those who don’t have food …they notice who does …one lone small boy.
When people experience a shortage of anything they can develop a well-trained eye to notice those who have a lot, like that small boy who alone has food. I am sure the crowd looked hungrily and even enviously at his lunch and perhaps even with malice as well.
Perhaps the boy held a little tighter to his two loaves and fish! While it is perfectly okay to admire another’s good fortune, sometimes wanting what another person has can lead to envy and possibly even worse behavior. Jesus notices both the crowd’s hunger but also the vulnerability of that young boy. Maybe Jesus heard people grumbling and even wanting to forcefully take his bread. Unless Jesus acted quickly the crowd might do something drastic.
If the problem is scarcity of food, then Jesus will not only multiply bread, He will give you so much you won’t know what to do with it all!
This is a true miracle and not simply Jesus inviting people to share food they already had. Jesus would have invited them to share if they had some, as He had done in several other passages. However, sharing food they already had would not explain how there was so much food left over from what they had at the start. The math doesn’t add up! This a true miracle.
Jesus does something meaningful here about abundance.
Jesus wants you to have a “spirit of abundance” that can only come from Him. Having “more” than you need creates a sense of peace with others and generosity for them.
No need to want what another has if you feel you are already full. Rather than wanting what another has …you are looking for ways to give away what you already have!
That spirit of abundant grace can change the way you look at your life right now as well. You may not have a lot of things, but you can be filled with an abundance of God’s grace that places you at peace with others. Then you can see what is so often missed …that you already have a lot …and have a lot to give!
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Love your precious insight Father Dave!!! Dick and I would loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee an abudance of God’s precious grace and share it with others in loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!! Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee it and loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee you!! Have a beautiful day in our loving Jesus and our beautiful Blessed Mother’s precious LOVE!!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee,
Franca and Dick
Exactly what I needed today.
I am glad you found my article helpful!
We are so sorry to hear about John Bailie. He was a true friend and an inspiration.
John was a very big man with an even bigger heart!
O my gosh! I too am so sorry to read this. When I was very ill, a long time ago, John would always come to my bed in ICU, pray over me and give me communion. He also gave me a morning prayer card that he had written: “Lord grant that I may meet all this day brings to me with spiritual tranquility. Grant that I may fully surrender myself to thy Holy Will…….Direct my will & teach me to pray, to hope, to be patient, to forgive, and to Love.”
RIP John, you remain my spiritual healer forever!
Thank you for sharing your experience of John’s ministry. I know he loved those times very much!
The idea of the spirit of abundance grace is a beautiful thought . Not only did Jesus want us to share that grace but he gave it so freely.
Happiness has a way wanting to share all that you can. What if the little boy asked Jesus to share his bread and fish? It would be confirmation of Gods goodness.
May we all be instruments of peace.
Yes, well said. Happiness has a way of inspiring us to share it!
Your answer was a great reminder of Gods abundance. I also heard when listening to the Gospel that when they were coming up the hill for one thing but Jesus saw them coming and saw the real need at that time. He also had a lesson for the Apostles. Sometimes we think we need one thing and the Lord says not now but I know what you really need at this time.
It is like a child’s school book, Math for example. A child might not want to learn fractions and skip over them, but in learning fractions it leads to the next step. It is like those who have won the lottery. I read an article that most spent all the money quickly without knowing how to handle it.
Your answer was so good about his abundance. It is all in His timing not ours and we need to be4 patient and study His word and get to know God better each day. In doing that maybe what we think is important might just change, just like those chasing after Jesus.
Yes, patience and relying on the timing of Our Lord is a wise course to take!
Fr. Dave,
Compliments once again for a deep and rich-meaning Reflection: I have always found a spirit of abundance to lead to joy and prosperity particularly towards others, while a spirit of scarcity to do just the opposite leading to despair and selfishness.
Dio vi Benedica
Beautiful!
Dear Father Dave,
Another great lesson to be learned and practiced.
Thank you and God Bless.
P.S. Hope the fishing was good.
Kathleen
Thank you, and yes, the fishing was great in my annual week in the High Sierra’s.