MY daily reflection and prayer:
Friday , April 8, 2016
Second Week of Easter
Dear my friends,
Here is the Gospel for us today according to St. John 6:1-15
After this, Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near. When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people recline.” Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat. When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, “This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.” Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.
This is the Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you Lord Jesus Christ.
***
THE Gospel today tells us that Jesus tests his disciples, watching the reaction they have to seemingly impossible situations. Jesus says to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” He says this to test him, because he himself knows what he is going to do.
While the disciples are confused and saying, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little”, a little boy is generous. With innocence and simplicity, he walks up with his basket. He has five barley loaves and two fish. “But what good are these for so many?” says Andrew, one of his disciples.
We all know then with this food, Jesus the Lord will do something wonderful. The disciples are being given a beautiful lesson in this trusting child who gives everything over to Jesus Christ. Jesus gives them the miracle of the multification with twelve wicker baskets fill with fragments from the five barley loaves that has been more than they could eat.
In the Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist, while worshipping Jesus Christ we learn to trust in him like the child who gives to Jesus what he has. We ask him that we will be generous in helping others, trusting more in God’s grace than in ourself.
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus Christ, we see the compassion in your heart when you look out at the vast crowd. They are hungry, and you give them food. Give the grace we need to cooperate generously with you in the ongoing work of redemption. May we be generous in helping others now and forever. Amen.
Kredit foto: Ilustrasi (Ist)
