SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

2Kings 4:42-44
Psalm 145
Ephesians 4:1-6
John 6:1-15

FEEDING FROM THE LITTLE

We  are serving a living God, the miracle worker. He is the God of Providence. Today's readings invite us therefore not to worry, but have confidence in God and bring him the little we have so that he may multiply it for us. Moreover, the unity and love that bind us together must lead us to  be willing to share  with others the little we have.

In the first reading, a man from Baal-Shalisha brought his first fruits to Elisha, the man of God. The latter miraculously fed hundred people with the twenty loaves the man had brought him. He did this out of confidence on the word of God (2Kgs 4:42-44). The psalmist says that the eyes of all look hopefully up to God, who provides food to every living thing in due season. In the gospel, Jesus fed five thousands men out of five loaves and two fish. It was a little boy who gave out the little he had to feed the multitude  (John 6:1-15).

It is of no wonder that St Paul exhorts us in the second reading to bear with one another, show love, and live in peace and unity with everybody. Brotherliness, fellowship, selflessness and sharing must therefore characterize our homes and communities

Let us learn from the man from Baal-Shalisha to support our priests and pastors. Let priests and men of God learn from prophet Elisha to help the needy with the little they have. Let us all learn from the little boy in the gospel to be willing to share our resources with others. In every situation, may we trust in God who provides for our needs.
Amen

SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Jeremiah 23:1-6
Psalm 22
Ephesians 2:13-18
Mark 6:30-34

BE CONCERNED OF OTHERS

Last Sunday, Jesus sent his disciples into mission. Today, they come back and give account of what they had done. Jesus asks them to withdraw to a lonely place so that they could rest for a while. But before they could reach their place of rest, a large crowd was already waiting for them. The people were like without guide, exhausted, and lost. They were hungry for words of light and meaning in their lives. Thus, Jesus was moved with compassion for them. He let go his legitimate right to rest so as to satisfy the needs of the crowd. In this sense, Jesus is the good, loving, caring and tenderhearted shepherd (Mark 6:30-34).

These were the qualities that were lacking in the leaders of Israel at the time of prophet Jeremiah. Hence, in the first reading God warns them for their misdeeds. They did not take care of the flock; neither did they seek the lost nor gather them. Consequently, God promises to raise up new and faithful shepherds for his people (Jer. 23:1-6).

Another quality of a good shepherd is that he gathers the flock. He promotes togetherness, peace and unity. St Paul tells us in the second reading that Jesus, by his death on the cross, has reconciled all of us into one people. He broke the wall of division and brought both Jews and Gentiles into one family (Eph. 2:13-18).

Each one of us, whether we are the Pope, a bishop, a priest, a pastor, a parent, a leader, a doctor, a teacher, a seller, a worker, etc. must strive to be caring, sensitive to the needs and miseries of others. Sometimes, we may need to let go our rights and privileges, our cherished time of rest in order to bring relief and consolation to others. We are invited also to break the barriers of hostility, division and revenge that are tearing apart our relationships, families, churches and communities.
May the Lord bless and keep all of us. Amen

FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Amos 7:12-15
Psalm 84:9-14
Ephesians 1:3-14
Mark 6:7-13

THE MISSIONARY PEOPLE

In today’s readings, we are reminded that we are sent to go and tell our story, the story of our relationship with God. Every baptized is a missionary, called to be holy and spotless before God. We are therefore called to holiness; and this holiness is achieved in the daily living of the Gospel of which we are bearers.

The Gospel reading narrates the first missionary experience of Jesus’ disciples. Having spent some time with him, Jesus sends them out to cast out demons, heal the sick and preach repentance. He also instructs them not to take anything for the journey, but to depend solely on the providence of God.

In the first reading, Amos defends the legitimacy of his prophetic mission before Amaziah, priest of Bethel. God called him to prophesy to the people of Israel in the northern kingdom and to call them to conversion.

It is God who calls and commissions. We are called to be God’s adopted children in Christ Jesus. Thus, the second reading celebrates this boundless grace of God in a form of a hymn of blessing. It also exalts Christ as the one whom God has established as the source of salvation of mankind. In him, and through his blood, we have gained freedom and forgiveness of our sins. In him, God has showered us with his spiritual blessings.

This is the good news we must receive, celebrate, live and share with others in our homes, workplaces, schools, communities and so forth. By so doing, we will become true ambassadors of Christ and become the true version of ourselves, that is, missionaries called to be holy. May the Lord bless and keep all of us.
Amen.

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Ezekiel 2:2- 5

Psalm 122

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Mark 6:1-6

THE THORN IN MY FLESH

It can be observed that messages urging conversion, love, truth, justice, forgiveness, etc. are often met with hostility, hatred, rejection, and persecution. This reality is more evident in the life of prophets and men of God. What makes the work of a prophet more difficult and risky is that he is called to challenge and urge his own people to change their way of life and conform their lives to the will of God.

In the first reading, God sent Ezekiel as a prophet to speak his word to his people so obstinate and defiant that they would not even listen to him (Ez. 2:2-5).

In the Gospel reading, Jesus comes to his hometown. But his own people would not accept him, because they thought they knew him and his family background. While the other towns hailed him for his miracles and powerful preaching, his hometown despised him (Mark 6:1-6).

St Paul, in the second reading, expresses his joy in bearing with his weaknesses, hardships and persecution for the sake of his mission as a preacher. For God’s grace is sufficient for him to bear the thorn in his flesh (2Cor. 12:7-10).

Working for God is never easy. In our own time, priests and other men of God are often victims of persecution, poisoning, hatred, humiliation, hostility for the simple reason that they are bearers of the Good News. The church and its leaders are humiliated, criticized, and ridiculed for one reason or the other.

However, we must remember the words of Jesus in Mark 13:13 “And you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved”. May the Lord grant us the sufficient grace so that we may not despair but endure in face of our own shortcomings and amidst persecutions and hostilities. Amen.