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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider Give them some food yourselves

Give them some food yourselves

Published Aug 4, 2024 11:14 pm

REFLECTIONS TODAY

Gird your loins

Today’s Gospel narrates the feeding of the multitude. The disciples come to Jesus, suggesting that the crowds be dismissed so that they may look for their own provisions. Jesus tells the disciples not to send the people away. The disciples themselves must give people something to eat (phagein) even in such a deserted place. Jesus’ disciples are preoccupied. There are only five loaves and two fish available. They want to dismiss the crowds. They want the easy solution to the problem confronting them. 


Nevertheless, Jesus multiplies the meager food supply. All eat and are satisfied. Amazingly, there are even 12 baskets of leftover food. There are times when we are confronted with a limit situation wherein our immediate response is to give up rather than to creatively find solutions. Miracles happen when we do not give up and dismiss possibilities. Miracles happen when we see possibilities. 


In limit situations, do we immediately give up? In the face of problems, can we see possibilities? Do we face our problems squarely and creatively find solutions?

 

Gospel • Matthew 14:13-21 

When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick. When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” He said to them, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.” But they said to him, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.” Then he said, “Bring them here to me,” and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over—twelve wicker baskets full. Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.

Source: “366 Days with the Lord 2024,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected].

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