17thSunday in Ordinary Time(Cycle B, Year I)
Community Word: The grace of God is sufficient for us to perform mighty deeds.
Theme: The grace of God is sufficient when we rely on His divine provisions.
Promise: “The eyes of all look hopefully to you, and you give them their food in due season, you open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.”(Ps 145:15-16)
Reflection:
Our Community theme for the 17thSunday in Ordinary Time, “The grace of God is sufficient when we rely on His divine provisions,” exhorts us to believe in God’s provisions and blessings for all who are faithful to him. In the gospel we learn that in their eagerness, the large crowd that followed Jesus failed to bring enough food because their only concern was to be with Him. Seeing their predicament, Jesus demonstrates His concern for their physical well-being, as He satisfies their physical hunger through a miracle. Taking note of a young boy’s generous offer of his meagre five barley loaves and a couple of fish, Jesus graciously accepts the offer, gives thanks to the Father, and has his disciples distribute the food to the crowd (Jn. 6:10), using the boy’s spontaneous generosity as the starting point of yet another great miracle, the feeding of five thousand people.
What Jesus reveals in this instance is his Good Shepherd’s heart. His example challenges us to do something ourselves for those in need.God always gives us numerous opportunities so that we can help other people too.Jesus wants us to realize the value of sharing that we may, in the process, learn the virtue of generosity. Miracles happen when we care and willingly share of ourselves and of our resources.Out of the multitude waiting to witness more of Jesus’s miracles, it is this little boy who exemplifies the spirit of caring and sharing.
To this day, while we lay claim optimum productivity and unprecedented harvests thanks to modernization and advances in technology, many people still die of malnutrition, or hunger-related diseases.Why?Is it because rich nations continue to hoard their wealth, unwilling to share or help the poor of the earth? Or could it be because a great deal of basic staples like cereals,are used as feed to fatten animals rather than food for human consumption? Are the rich so deeply engrossed in investment returns, they are unmindful of the scarcity and want among the poor?Is there no sense of urgency in addressing the starvation happening in parts of the world today?Present day disciples should draw inspiration and be challenged by what Jesus did two thousand years ago in his compassionate response as shepherd to the needy.
The story of the multiplication of bread and fish is so significant, all four gospel writers tell us about this event.The disciples of Jesus initially lacked faith, as demonstrated by their suggestion for Jesus to dismiss the crowd (Mt. 14:15). But they later realized that with faith, there is no limit to what one can do. When we have faith, we become extremely powerful.Why?Because when we act with faith, we are allowing God Himself to work in and through us. Let us open ourselves to His grace so that He can accomplish whatever He wishes to accomplish through us.
We Christians have to always bear in mind that the fruit of God’s blessings is for everyone.We have a moral responsibility to remind everyone about this truth, especially that of sharing God’s blessings with those who are really in need.We are to emulate the attitude of the generous boy who, sensing the need to share, offered to do so on his own volition.If we can only be as selfless and understanding of one another’s needs, as this boy was, then miracles will happen around us anytime, anywhere, in every way.Sharing is not the monopoly of those who have much for, as it is rightly said, no one is so poor that he cannot give; no one is so rich, that he cannot receive. If we can only be more sensitive to other people’s plight, then we can make miracles ourselves.
Prayer:
Ever compassionate God, in times of helplessness and when tragedies darken our lives, we cling to Your divine grace and mercy to see us through what lies ahead. We claim Your promise that “The eyes of all look hopefully to you, and you gave them their food in due season, you open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.” (Ps145:15-16)
Almighty Father, continuously work in us and through us to fulfill Your plan and purpose for our lives. Continue using us to minister Your love and compassion to all we can reach and whose lives we can touch. We will always remain faithful to You Lord, for we believe You only want us all to be happy, to live in abundance and to have life in all its fullness. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
1. In what ways do you share your bread and your blessings with others?
2. What miracles have you experienced in your life that strengthens your faith in God?
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
July 26, 2015 (Sun) 2Kgs 4:42-44/Ps 145:10-11,15-16,17-18/Eph 4:1-6/Jn 6:1-15
July 27, 2015 (Mon) Ex 32:15-24,30-34/Ps 106:19-20,21-22,23/Mk 13:36-43
July 28, 2015 (Tue) Ex 33:7-11;34:5-9,28/Ps 103:6-7,8-9,10-11,12-13/Mt 13:36-43
July 29, 2015 (Wed) Ex 40:16-21,34-38/Ps 84:3,4,5-6,8,11/Mt 13:47-53
July 31, 2015 (Fri) Lv 23:4-11,15-16,27,34-37/Ps 81:3-4,5-6,10-11/Mt 13:54-58
Aug 1, 2015 (Sat) Lv 25:8-17/Ps 67:2-3,5,7-8/Mt 14:1-12
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