Weekly Reflection

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
“Farmers everywhere provide bread for all humanity, but it is Christ alone who is the bread of life... Even if all the physical hunger of the world were satisfied, even if everyone who is hungry were fed by his or her own labor or by the generosity of others, the deepest hunger of man would still exist...Therefore, I say, Come, all of you, to Christ. He is the bread of life. Come to Christ and you will never be hungry again.” Pope John Paul II
 
In today's first reading, God feeds the Israelites with manna and quail. In the second reading, St. Paul encourages the Ephesians to put away the old self and embrace the way of righteousness to make a distinction from nonbelievers. And in the gospel reading, Jesus tells the people looking for him, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst."
 
God's action in today's first reading significantly demonstrates His love to rescue us whenever we call on Him. God shows Himself, when in need, as the great provider for His people and satisfies their heart's desire. Similarly, God can grant the wishes of our hearts if we ask Him in faith. For this to happen, St. Paul tells us that we should abandon our old life of sin and take up a new life of uprightness and holiness in Christ.
 
Last week, we read how Jesus fed the five thousand people with five barley loaves and two fish. This week, we continue the narrative from the gospel of John chapter six as the people came in search of Jesus. Upon seeing them, Jesus questions their intention. He accuses them of seeking Him because of free food. Jesus instead encourages them to search for food that endures. Thus, the reading invites us to be concerned with spiritual food than physical food.
 
This week, reflect on the question; Why are you looking for Jesus?

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
“If Christ did not want to dismiss the Jews without food in the desert for fear that they would collapse on the way, it was to teach us that it is dangerous to try to get to heaven without the Bread of Heaven.” St. Jerome.

In today’s first reading, the prophet Elisha, calling on the power of God, instructs the people to feed on the twenty loaves made from the first fruits and fresh grain in the ear. In the second reading, St. Paul encourages the Ephesians to live in humility, tolerance, patience, and love to keep the unity in the spirit. And in the gospel, Jesus miraculously feeds the crowd with five loaves and two fish.

We experience the power of God in the miraculous feeding of the one hundred people by Elisha and the five thousand people by Jesus. The miracles remind us that God multiplies our efforts and offerings. The feeding was possible because the people made their limited offerings. The loaves were insignificant compared to the people fed, but the power of God increased the offerings. Today’s responsorial psalm affirms, it is the hand of God that feeds us; he answers our needs. Indeed, God cares for his people. He provides for our needs. As Christians, we must cooperate with God to meet our basic needs with generosity and compassion. God blesses those who share their time, treasure, and talent.

Let us adopt the culture of the generous giving of our time, talent, and treasure. Through you, God can bless and satisfy the needs of people around you. Generosity is a strong feeling of caring for someone else. It is saying farewell to selfishness in the way we attend to the needs of people around us. In your generosity to tend for others, God blesses you too.

This week let us learn to offer what we have, give thanks to God, and expect God to act.

Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
"If the lungs of prayer and of the word of God do not nourish the breath of spiritual life, we risk suffocating in the midst of a thousand daily cares. Prayer is the breath of the soul and of life." Pope Benedict XVI.
 
In today's first reading, the prophet Jeremiah holds the bad shepherds responsible for the scattering of God's people. He foretells the homecoming of the Israelites from exile and the return of a righteous king. In the second reading, St. Paul writes about our reconciliation with God and how we have the privilege to access Him in one spirit. In the Gospel, Jesus invites His apostles to the desert to rest a while. Also, Jesus is filled with compassion for the crowd because they were like sheep without a shepherd.
 
The struggle to make ends meet forces many to become workaholics who refuse to rest. Perhaps, for some, one of the pandemic's benefits is that they now have more time to rest. Our body deserves some rest. Otherwise, it will shut down. I once came across an excellent quotation by an unknown author, "if you do not find time to rest, your body will force you to rest." Physical rest plays a vital role in our body. Humans are not immune from the obligation to rest. God gave an example by resting after the creation of the world. Thus, Jesus says to His apostles and us, come to the desert and rest.
 
Resting helps us to recharge not only physically but also spiritually. Jesus invited his apostles to the physical and spiritual renewal. They have been out with authority and power to drive out demons, liberate the people, and nourish them with the word of God. As they give an account of their apostolates, Jesus says come to the quiet place to experience God too. We are encouraged to take a moment out of our daily schedule to the quiet place to be recharged by God spiritually. We encounter Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who strengthens and empowers us to be moved with pity to care for the sheep without a shepherd through prayers.

Fifteenth Sunday in Ordianry Time Year B
“Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words.” St. Francis of Assisi.

In today’s first reading, Amaziah, the priest of Bethel, instructs Amos to leave Bethel for Judah. Amos, on his part, defended his prophetic role with courage. He clarifies that God chose to elevate him from a shepherd and tree-dresser to a prophet. In his letter to the Ephesians, St. Paul appreciates the richness of God’s blessings showered upon His adopted children. In the Gospel, Jesus sends His Apostles on mission with guidelines.

Jesus summons His apostles in pairs with instructions to go poorly, without provisions, without money, no bags, not even spare clothing. Also, Jesus graces them with authority and power. We, too, are chosen and honored with the spiritual graces of heaven in Christ. In the second reading, St Paul affirms the bestowment of God’s blessings on us before the foundation of the world so that we may be holy and without blemish before God.

Amos brings the message of repentance to the Israelites. Also, the apostles preach the good news of repentance, freedom from the enslavement of the devil, forgiveness of sin, and salvation in Christ Jesus. Like Amos and the apostles, we all have a mission to accomplished as adopted children of God. We are to be the face of the presence of God to each other by emulating, following, mirroring, and radiating Jesus. In appreciating the blessings of God like St. Paul, we share with others the goodness of God.

This week let us reflect on how we grow in authentic Christian discipleship. Learning to let go of material things by detaching from them and trusting God will provide all we need to fulfill his mission on earth.