17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle B, Year I)
Community Word: Faith and trust in the Good Shepherd allows God’s grace to work in our life.
Theme: God’s grace works in our life when we rely on His divine provision and generosity.
Promise: “The eyes of all look hopefully to you…. you open your hands and satisfy the desire of every living thing,” (Ps 145:15a, 16b)
Reflection:
A crowd, which has grown in number, followed Jesus to hear his teachings and witness his healing miracles. Out of his pity and compassion, Jesus wanted to feed the crowd which was becoming weary and hungry. But the only available food were five loaves of bread and two fishes from a young boy who generously yielded his meager provision. Jesus accepted this gracious offering and from this spontaneous generosity, the miracle of the multiplication of food happened that fed five thousand men.
In this event, Jesus reveals his heart as a Good Shepherd. His example challenges us to do something ourselves for those in need. He leads us to consider sharing our resources, even if these are precious to us, to benefit many people. We are reminded that we are mere stewards of everything that we have, and as good Christians, we are encouraged to use them to help the poor and the needy. The Lord always gives us opportunities to help and wants us to realize the value of sharing so that we may learn the virtue of generosity in the process.
Miracles do happen when we care and willingly share ourselves and of our resources. Some might think they do not have enough to share, or a little help will not make a difference. But, just like the multiplication of the five loaves that fed a multitude, little contributions when put together can result in a meaningful lot. Generosity begets generosity. For God, there is no such thing as little or insignificant when given out of one’s generosity, for He is after the heart of the giver. What is important is one’s willingness to share, and when offered to the Lord, he will pour into our lap provisions and blessings “good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over,” (cf. Lk 6:38).
For over a year now, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused gloominess. It has deeply affected the lives of many people due to loss of loved ones, loss of livelihood and financial means, lack of food and other provisions. In the midst of this growing hopelessness, a group of persons started a ‘community pantry’ with the purpose of providing free food for the needy. And like the miracle of the multiplication of bread, community pantries quickly spread in many places. This has triggered kindheartedness as people started to donate and share food and goods for free. People began to feel that there is still care and compassion around. The same kind of spirit transpired in our community with the very positive response of the global appeal to raise funds for victims of the pandemic. As a result, many of our brothers and sisters were being helped.
God is truly our Provider; He supplies all our needs, both spiritually and physically. “God is able to make every grace abundant for you, so that in all things, always having all you need, you may have an abundance for every good work,” (2 Cor 9:8). The Lord continues to work in wonderful and mysterious ways as we focus on this week’s Promise: “The eyes of all look hopefully to you…. you open your hands and satisfy the desire of every living thing,” (Ps 145:15a, 16b).
Prayer:
Lord, bless me with a generous heart that I may be able to help those who are in need of spiritual and temporal help. I pray that I may be able to respond rightly to prayer requests, as well as share my resources to those who are having difficulties in dealing with their financial concerns. Lord, nothing compares with your generosity in sharing your Beloved Son as a manifestation of Your great love for us. I pray that this will always be my inspiration in sharing my love to others.
Reflection Guide Questions:
- In what ways can your gifts, talents or abilities be put to good use for your family and/ or community? What small gift, talent or ability can you share to serve others?
- What provision and blessing have you received that strengthened your faith in God?
This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
July 25, 2021 (Sun) – 2Kgs 4:42-44/ Ps 145:10-11,15-16,17-18/ Eph 4:1-6/ Jn 6:1-15
July 26, 2021 (Mon) – Ex 32:15-24, 30-34/ Ps 106:19-20, 21-22, 23/ Mt 13:31-35
July 27, 2021 (Tue) – Ex 33:7-11; 34:5-9, 28/ Ps 103:6-7, 8-9,10-11,12-13/ Mt 13:36-43
July 28, 021 (Wed) – Ex 34:29-35/ Ps 99:5, 6, 7, 9/ Mt 13:44-46
July 29, 2021 (Thurs) – Ex 40:16-21, 34-38/ Ps 84:3, 4, 5-6a, 8a, 11/Jn 11:19-27
July 30, 2021 (Fri) – Lv 23:4-11,15-16, 27, 34-37/ Ps 81:3-4,5-6,10-11ab/ Mt 13:54-58
July 31, 2021 (Sat) – Lv 25:8-17/ Ps 67:2-3, 5, 7-8/ Mt 14:1-12
“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”
