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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider They ate and were

They ate and were

Published Feb 9, 2024 04:05 pm

REFLECTIONS TODAY

Gird your loins

Satisfied. Jesus’ proclamation of the Kingdom of God is wholistic. He desires the total liberation of the person. He is not only concerned about spiritual needs but also bodily needs. The people have been listening to his words for three days now and have run out of food. Jesus’ heart is moved with pity. He cannot afford to send them away hungry, although they are not expecting him to feed them. The disciples worry. They have very little to share with the hungry throng. Jesus makes an unexpected miracle. He blesses and multiplies the little that they have and orders his disciples to distribute. The 4,000 men have their fill. 


The miracle makes us reflect on the following: (1) Jesus’ compassion, (2) the need to make available the little we have, and (3) the effort to distribute. Without these three elements, the miracle cannot happen. Miracles are still possible when we as Church people cooperate with the grace of God. Our communities must take care of the body and soul of our members, or more exactly, the totality of a person.

Gospel • Mk 8:1-10 

In those days when there again was a great crowd without anything to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.”

 His disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here in this deserted place?” Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you have?” They replied, “Seven.” He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd. They also had a few fish. He said the blessing over them and ordered them distributed also. They ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over— seven baskets. There were about four thousand people. 

He dismissed the crowd and got into the boat with his disciples and came to the region of Dalmanutha.

Source: “366 Days with the Lord 202.,” E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.

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