Progenitor of grace

Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

25 July 2021 

 

First Reading: 2 Kgs 4:42-44

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 145:10-11, 15-16, 17-18

Second Reading: Eph 4:1-6

Gospel: Jn 6:1-15

 

Reflection

By: Grace Madrinan

 

"There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish, but what are these for so many?" - John 6:9

When I read this verse in today's Gospel, I can't help but relate it to the community pantry that had since spread all over the country and abroad. I saw how it started with one small cart of basic pantry items along Maginhawa street. If Ana Patricia Non, the progenitor of this community pantry, thought that her help is too little to matter, then 6,700 other community pantries would not have helped feed people in need.

Similar to the boy in today's Gospel, he did not mind sharing his small packed lunch to the disciples. His generosity is innate. In his innocent mind, if he can but make at least a few less hungry then that would be enough, even at the risk of losing food for his own.

And that is what Jesus is waiting for - a progenitor of generosity. Someone to offer even with the littlest he has, so that God can multiply it.

I used to wonder why Jesus had to wait for the boy to offer his lunch. He could just have brought rain of manna like in the time of Moses, or turn stone into bread. But I also thought that it would not look right, since it would look like sorcery and besides, would you eat the food if you knew it used to be a stone? There's going to be a lot of explaining to do! That is definitely not how God operates.

I read somewhere that this is because God wants to cooperate with us. He is not invasive, He is not manipulative, He will move if we allow Him to work. And when we have faith, miracles happen.

 

Prayer

 

"Dearest Lord, teach me to be generous

Teach me to serve You as I should

To give and not to count the cost"

    - Prayer of Generosity (Bukas Palad Ministry)