Weekly Reflections

Jesus fed five thousand people in the desert. Everyone got as much as they wanted. But he couldn’t have done it without the five loaves and two fish given him by a young boy, and without the help of the apostles.

Mother Teresa fed nine thousand people every day in Calcutta. But she couldn’t have done so without the generosity of many people around the world.

One day a young couple came into her house and gave her money. “Where did you get so much money?’ Mother Teresa asked. “

We were married two days ago and we decided not to have a wedding feast, but to give the money to feed the poor instead: Why would you do this?’ she asked.

‘Because we love each other and wanted to begin our married life with an act of sacrifice.

Sometimes a small deed takes on an importance far beyond its actual value. When Jesus told the apostles to give food to the people, they said, ‘all we have with us is five loaves and two fish: On hearing this Jesus might have said, That’s no good. Forget the whole thing. Send the people home: But he said no such thing. Instead, he took the five loaves and two fish, and with them fed the people.

There is a tendency today to go in for the big gesture, and to neglect the small gesture hence, we may be tempted to think that because our contribution is small, it will make no difference. So we excuse ourselves from doing anything. But everything helps.

Feeding hungry bodies is one of the corporal works of mercy. It is something we could and should be able to do for ourselves. But there is a food which only God can give.

Jesus was concerned about those who were hungry. However, he didn’t just feed people’s bodies; he nourished their minds, their hearts, and their spirits. The people Jesus fed in that lonely place that day went home fully nourished – in body and in spirit.

The miracle involved a lot more than giving food to people. It was an expression of the care and love of God for his people. The food is a symbol of the life God wants us to have -life here on earth, and eternal life in His Kingdom.

Today we celebrate 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

In the Gospel for this Sunday Jesus said to his disciples: The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.

Jesus just told us that the kingdom of heaven is like a hidden treasure which a man found in a field. He sold all he had and bought that field.

The Treasure Jesus is talking about is our faith. Faith which makes us members of the kingdom of heaven. The treasure is our faith in Jesus Christ, our belief that He is both God and Man that He saved us on the cross, that He will take us into heaven if we are faithful to Him.

All of us should be like the man in the parable, – ready to “sell” all we have to get the faith and to keep the faith. And practically all of us have this faith. That faith was given to us with little or no effort on our part. But to keep that faith, to nourish and strengthen that faith demands some sacrifice on our part.

For example, some people would prefer golfing on Sunday morning, (or to sleep a little longer, or to go fishing) or to do something else, rather than come to Mass. But some are selling that (extra sleep, that fun of fishing, or golfing), for the treasures of Holy Mass and Holy Communion.

During every Holy Mass Jesus is telling us that we have to do every thing possible on our part to renew our faith, to renew our determination to live our faith in Him. Nothing can stand between us and GOD.

May God bless you and Mary always keeps you in her prayers.