MONDAY OF THE EIGHTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
- Seminarian Chris Paul Ndung’u
- Aug 2, 2021
- 3 min read
2 August 2021
Nm 11:4-15,
Ps 81:12-13.14-15.16-17,
Mt 14:13-21
GOD’S GENEROSITY AND KINDNESS IS ALWAYS OVERFLOWING
It is common and human for us to look at what seems to be lacking in our personal lives and compare it to what we or others have experienced. Many times we always voice our complaints and always claim that the grass always looks greener on the other side.
If we really trust the Lord Jesus, we would see that God always provides for us, maybe not the way we expect but oftentimes, when God blesses us by fulfilling our true needs, we are given far more than we need so that we can share our abundance with others. We should even share with others when we don’t have abundance, for in giving to others, God will provide for us.
The First Reading gives an account of the Israelites complaining against God because of their hunger in the desert. They long for the food they ate while they were slaves in Egypt. We even see Moses lamenting to God asking Him where he will get the meat and the fish the Israelites are demanding. Moses even reaches to a point of giving up and even says that the burden is too heavy for him and even wishes to die.
The Israelites here, have not yet learned that God not only provides manna but will also meet all their needs if they humbly come before the Lord and seek God’s care and protection.
Today’s gospel is the account of God’s providence where we see Jesus feeding the five thousand people. This feeding of the five thousand strongly echoes the Exodus event where the Lord provided manna to the Israelites.
We can ask ourselves, what was the significance of God providing manna for the Israelites and Jesus feeding the five thousand people.
The first is that Jesus puts human needs ahead of everything else. His compassion shows the depths of God’s love and concern for all who are truly in need. He spiritually feeds the people of God by giving them God’s word and He physically feeds them also by giving them bread to satisfy their hunger for food. And so we can never intrude upon God nor exhaust his generosity and kindness. He is ever ready to give to those who earnestly seek him out.
Secondly, God is always ready to care for us in ways far beyond our expectations.
Sometimes we become like the Israelites of old whereby we complain and want things our way. The Gospel shows that if we listen to the Master and learn from Him, He will feed us with the best of wheat and we will have our fill and still there will be some left.
Thirdly, God is with us and he provides for us. God often asks us to take what we have and contribute at least the surplus for the common good. We think we have so little, but if we are willing to give what we have, God will multiple it. The love of God is manifested to us if we open our eyes, ears, and hearts, and then, God will fill our open and empty mouths and hands with more than we can handle.
May you take stock of what you have been given by God and be willing to share what you have instead of complaining about what you do not have.
Life is good when you are happy, but life is better when other people are happy because of you. Share your happiness everywhere you are.
Stay blessed
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