17th Sunday in Ordinary Time(Cycle B, Year II)
Community Word:Faith anchored on Jesus Christ is unshakeable.
Theme: Unshakeable faith allows us to share our love and compassion with others.
Promise:“They shall eat and there shall be some left over.”(2Kgs 4:43b))
Reflection:
Our theme this week – Unshakeable faith allows us to share our love and compassion with others – is the message of this Sunday’s gospel. Jesus leads the people to recognize the Bread that does not only satisfy human cravings but one that nourishes their beings for eternal life. The “food” of Jesus is to do His Father’s will – to give His people their daily bread. And more than the food consumed but still make them hungry, it is the “spiritual food” that would bring them closer to the Father through His Son, Jesus, who is the Bread of Life. The multiplication of bread speaks of the greater miracle of the Eucharist where Jesus gathers His people to sustain them with the nourishment for their salvation.
The question of Jesus to his disciples, where to buy enough food for the people to eat (Jn 6:5), shows that He is indeed a compassionate Shepherd. Jesus is a great Leader and Teacher and He leads us to experience grace in a deeper way and teaches us to attend to those people in need and do something for them. Acts of charity must be extended to the less fortunate. The miracle of the multiplication of bread and fish demonstrates the value and benefits of sharing. The little we have, if all of us will share,is more than enough to sustain those who are in want. Miracles happen when we are always gracious to help and to give.
God can make more of what we offer. We would never know where our efforts to love, to help and to support others might bear fruit. The Eucharist becomes a challenge to experience the compassion of the Lord and allows us to be the instrument of His loving care to all. It is our worship in the table of God that satisfies our deep longing for God, makes us sensitive God and be committed to each other. For Jesus, the multiplication of food is a symbol of His desire to share Himself with us through the Bread of Life and in His word. This sharing is limitless and as often as we desire to, we will continue to receive His spiritual nourishment in our hearts. This is Jesus’ desire for us, to remain in us as we remain in Him.
Generosity and trust always go hand in hand. One who does not trust God will never learn to be generous. Jesus hold our resources in His hands and this is what really matters. It is up to us to open our hearts to receive this blessings by our complete faith and communion with the Lord. What the world truly needs is the conversion of people’s hearts that have full trust in God’s providence so that we may learn to let go of our possessions and share them with others.
One of the most endearing characteristics of Jesus is His generosity in sharing all He has with us. In this miracle through His action, He reveals how God is towards us – caring, nurturing and with deep concern for all our needs. His kindness and generosity overflow and because of this, we can be assured that we will never go hungry and our souls will never run dry, in this week’s promise:“They shall eat and there shall be some left over.” (2Kgs 4:43b).We are truly blessed in the presence of our kind-hearted God.
St. Teresa of Calcutta said this about Jesus: “He uses us to be his love and compassion in the world in spite of our weaknesses and frailties. I pray for the courage I need to risk giving even the little that I have. Jesus is present in the everyday encounters of my life. He is present in those I meet every day – in the poor, the marginalized, and those in need of my help. When I open my heart and reach out in compassion and love to them, I am also meeting Jesus.”
Prayer:
Our generous God, thank you for the Bread of Life and blessings in my life. May I always be ready to share, to give gladly and completely.Give me the willingness to go beyond myself, to share my little resources towards building a community where people love and care for one another.
Reflection Questions:
1. In what occasion can I attest how much Jesus has done for me?
2. Cite instances when you experienced Jesus sharing Himself with you in the word of God and in the Eucharist.
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
July 29, 2018 (Sun) -2Kgs 4:42-44/Ps 145:10, 11, 15-18/Eph 4:1-6/Jn 6:1-15
July 30, 2018 (Mon) – Jer 13:1-11/Dt 32:18-21/Mt 13:31-35
July 31, 2018 (Tue) – Jer 14:17-22/Ps 79:7, 9, and 11, 13/Mt 13:36-43
Aug 1, 2018 (Wed) – Jer 15:10, 16-21/Ps 59:2-4, 10, 11, 17, 18/Mt 13:44-46
Aug 2, 2018 (Thu) – Jer 18:1-6/Ps 146:1-6/Mt 13:47-53
Aug 3, 2018 (Fri)- Jer 26:1-9/Ps 69:5, 5, 10, 4/Mt 13:54-58
Aug 4, 2018 (Sat) – Jer 26:11-16,24/Ps 69:15,16,30,31,33,34/Mt 14:1-12
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
