First Wednesday of Advent

Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, for they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, for fear they may collapse on the way.” The disciples said to him, “Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place to satisfy such a crowd?” Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?” “Seven,” they replied, “and a few fish.” He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves and the fish, gave thanks, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied. They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets full.

After curing the lame, blind, deaf, deformed, and many others, Jesus shows compassion for the crowd and orders his disciples to feed them with what little they had on hand. This miracle shows not only Jesus’ concern for the well-being of his brothers and sisters, but also his ability to multiply the gifts we have. Each of us is like the disciples, we have a something to offer, but sometimes in our eyes it is not enough. However, Jesus does not look at what we have to offer and see a lack, but rather he sees the faith, hope, and love behind the gift. If we are willing to give God our time, talents, and treasures, He will multiply them a thousand fold and from our surplus He will feed His children body, mind, and soul.

Do we show compassion to and concern for others? What time, talents, and treasures do we have to offer God? Are we willing to trust God and give these things to Him so that He can give thanks over them and multiply them?

O Lord, we give thanks for all we have and offer everything to you so that you may do with it what you will.

Amen.

Twenty-Second Saturday of Ordinary Time

“Have you not read what David did when he and those who were with him were hungry? How he went into the house of God, took the bread of offering, which only the priests could lawfully eat, ate of it, and shared it with his companions?”

Doing what is right does not always make us popular. However, we should never allow others to convince us that what is right and good is wrong. Nor should we convince ourselves that our own spiritual practices are more important than being charitable to others whether they are our family, friends, or neighbors. If we allow others to talk us out of doing good, then we not only fail to do God’s Will, but we also reveal ourselves to be spiritual cowards. If we convince ourselves that our own spiritual practices are more important than other people, then we fail to love as we ought to and show ourselves to be selfish. So if we cannot listen to others nor depend upon ourselves, then who should we listen to? We should make a concerted effort to listen to God through forming our conscience in accord with His gospel message. We should seek spiritual guidance from those whom give constant witness to God’s Divine Plan rather than those who speak out of selfishness or ignorance.

Who do we listen to in our lives—God, others, or ourselves? Do we consider our time, talents, and treasures as being more important than others? How can we learn to love God and all His children with every iota of our being?

O Lord, let our thoughts, words, and works feed those who are spiritually and physically hungry.

Amen.

Second Friday of Easter

"There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?"

The boy has only a meager offering of loaves and fish, but Jesus multiplies them to feed thousands. In the same way, Jesus takes our meager good works and multiplies them to help thousands. Every act of love we commit ripples through the lives around us. Jesus magnifies love and turns our charitable works—no matter how small—into beacons of his Divine Love for all. So whenever we are presented with the opportunity to do good, we ought to offer whatever we have to God and let him feed His children with it. We should not let others convince us that our kindnesses are useless or meaningless. Our good works are given use and meaning by how God weaves them into his Divine Plan.

What acts of love, great or small, can we do for our fellow children of God? What opportunities to do good do we have available to us? In what ways have we noticed that our good works ripple away from us?

O Lord, let us offer you all our love so that you can magnify it and feed your children.

Amen.