Compassionate Provider

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time
03 August 2008

We are God’s people, the sheep of his flock: come, let us worship him, alleluia.

First reading Isaiah 55:1 - 3
Oh, come to the water all you who are thirsty;
though you have no money, come!
Buy corn without money, and eat,
and, at no cost, wine and milk.
Why spend money on what is not bread,
your wages on what fails to satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and you will have good things to eat
and rich food to enjoy.
Pay attention, come to me;
listen, and your soul will live.
With you I will make an everlasting covenant
out of the favours promised to David.

Psalm or canticle: Psalm 144

Second reading Romans 8:35 - 39
Nothing can come between us and the love of Christ, even if we are troubled or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked. These are the trials through which we triumph, by the power of him who loved us. For I am certain of this: neither death nor life, no angel, no prince, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, or height or depth, nor any created thing, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Gospel Matthew 14:13 - 21
When Jesus received the news of John’s death he withdrew by boat to a lonely place where they could be by themselves. But the people heard of this and, leaving the towns, went after him on foot. So as he stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them and healed their sick.

When evening came, the disciples went to him and said, ‘This is a lonely place, and the time has slipped by; so send the people away, and they can go to the villages to buy themselves some food.’ Jesus replied, ‘There is no need for them to go: give them something to eat yourselves.’ But they answered ‘All we have with us is five loaves and two fish.’ ‘Bring them here to me’ he said. He gave orders that the people were to sit down on the grass; then he took the five loaves and the two fish, raised his eyes to heaven and said the blessing. And breaking the loaves handed them to his disciples who gave them to the crowds. They all ate as much as they wanted, and they collected the scraps remaining; twelve baskets full. Those who ate numbered about five thousand men, to say nothing of women and children.

Reflection
By Annabelle Payod-Balla

Every time I have an opportunity to share my blessings with others I often feel afterwards that what I have given is not enough. I always wish I have given more, that I have given enough to truly satisfy the need. I guess there is limit to what I can do, what I can provide.

Fortunately, this is not true with God, with Jesus. There is no limit to what God can give. He can provide anything He wants to give with the right quantity, at the right time, and to the right people! And the best thing is, He provides with love, with compassion.

Jesus felt compassion when He saw the people who followed Him on foot from their towns just to be with Him. He didn’t want to send them away so they can go and buy their own food. He provided for all of them from what little they have on their hands. This tells me that when we are with Jesus, we don’t have to worry about our needs for He understands what we need and He will be there to provide them. He can multiply what we have, we only have to entrust them to Him.







Oh Jesus, how lucky we are to have You as our compassionate provider! Thank You for being there for us. Thank you for Your love.May we also show Your compassion to those in need. Amen.


Stay with Jesus and you’ll be fed beyond satisfaction!