GENESIS 14: 18-20, 1ST COR. 11:23-26, LIKE 9:11b-17
We all like to leave something behind that we want to be remembered for. It might be in the office we have worked, in a school we attended, or in a community we visited. It is even more certain that everyone must leave something behind when they die. It could be children or properties. whatever it may be, it is at least something that our hands have touched. Such that, when people look at it, they see us in it. This is called a legacy. Yet, there is no legacy so rich as the one Christ himself left for us, his body and blood.
My dear friends, today we celebrate the solemnity of the body and blood of Christ and in our gospel, we see the encounter between Jesus, his disciples and the crowd (The Story of the Multiplication of Loaves). Christ is seen in that gospel identifying with the crowd; he welcomes them, talks to them and cures them of their infirmities. Even when it was falling dark, he showed his care and concern for them by asking his disciples to organize something for them to eat. Who are the crowds or the multitude today? It is you and me.Christ wants us to also follow him, he wants to welcome us, talk to us and cure our infirmities. as such, let us follow and strive after Christ. Let us enter into communion with him.
Let us turn our attention towards the action of the disciples of Christ in our gospel reading, they wanted to dismiss the crowd. They took on the common attitude of “it is all man for himself”, the “on your own” attitude. But sometimes we are like the disciples too my dear friends. We do not care for the needs of our brothers and sisters. We will never leave our comfort zone to help a brother or a sister, or go the extra mile for them. We simply dismiss them with a miserable “God will Provide”. Christ in Our gospel reading today, challenges us to look the other way round, instead of turning people away, we should learn to look inwards. The solution to most of our problems are not farfetched. it was from the crowd itself that their solution came forth.
Yet another thing which we should pay attention to is the fact that, it was only after the little they presented to Christ was blessed and shared that they had enough to eat and even had left overs. Do you often hold back the things you have on the grounds that it might not meet your own needs or be enough for you? Well, here is a lesson for you. Not just what we have should be shared, even what we are. The multiplication of the loaves therefore showcases the solidarity of God with man as the Holy Father Pope Francis puts it. A solidarity that never runs dry. A solidarity that will be again enjoyed as we participate in the Holy Eucharist today.
My dear friends, there are three important things to hold on to. First, discipleship. 5,000 is certainly not a small number, what did they want with Christ? They listened to the truths he had to tell them, truths about the kingdom. As we listen to the word of God today, let us resolve to be a more committed disciple of Christ. Secondly, communion. The crowd enjoyed this with Christ. Let us also as a community of God’s people remain with Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Remember the words of the 19th century Philosopher, Ludwig Feuerbach, “Man is what he eats” let us become part of Christ. Finally, sharing. Our humble abilities and possessions should be at the service of our brothers and sisters. Because it is only then that our lives will be fruitful. May Christ strengthen our resolve to follow him, increase our spirit of communion and move us to give and share without reserve. Amen!
CALICEM SALUTARIS ACCIPIAM !!!
We all like to leave something behind that we want to be remembered for. It might be in the office we have worked, in a school we attended, or in a community we visited. It is even more certain that everyone must leave something behind when they die. It could be children or properties. whatever it may be, it is at least something that our hands have touched. Such that, when people look at it, they see us in it. This is called a legacy. Yet, there is no legacy so rich as the one Christ himself left for us, his body and blood.
My dear friends, today we celebrate the solemnity of the body and blood of Christ and in our gospel, we see the encounter between Jesus, his disciples and the crowd (The Story of the Multiplication of Loaves). Christ is seen in that gospel identifying with the crowd; he welcomes them, talks to them and cures them of their infirmities. Even when it was falling dark, he showed his care and concern for them by asking his disciples to organize something for them to eat. Who are the crowds or the multitude today? It is you and me.Christ wants us to also follow him, he wants to welcome us, talk to us and cure our infirmities. as such, let us follow and strive after Christ. Let us enter into communion with him.
Let us turn our attention towards the action of the disciples of Christ in our gospel reading, they wanted to dismiss the crowd. They took on the common attitude of “it is all man for himself”, the “on your own” attitude. But sometimes we are like the disciples too my dear friends. We do not care for the needs of our brothers and sisters. We will never leave our comfort zone to help a brother or a sister, or go the extra mile for them. We simply dismiss them with a miserable “God will Provide”. Christ in Our gospel reading today, challenges us to look the other way round, instead of turning people away, we should learn to look inwards. The solution to most of our problems are not farfetched. it was from the crowd itself that their solution came forth.
Yet another thing which we should pay attention to is the fact that, it was only after the little they presented to Christ was blessed and shared that they had enough to eat and even had left overs. Do you often hold back the things you have on the grounds that it might not meet your own needs or be enough for you? Well, here is a lesson for you. Not just what we have should be shared, even what we are. The multiplication of the loaves therefore showcases the solidarity of God with man as the Holy Father Pope Francis puts it. A solidarity that never runs dry. A solidarity that will be again enjoyed as we participate in the Holy Eucharist today.
My dear friends, there are three important things to hold on to. First, discipleship. 5,000 is certainly not a small number, what did they want with Christ? They listened to the truths he had to tell them, truths about the kingdom. As we listen to the word of God today, let us resolve to be a more committed disciple of Christ. Secondly, communion. The crowd enjoyed this with Christ. Let us also as a community of God’s people remain with Christ in the Holy Eucharist. Remember the words of the 19th century Philosopher, Ludwig Feuerbach, “Man is what he eats” let us become part of Christ. Finally, sharing. Our humble abilities and possessions should be at the service of our brothers and sisters. Because it is only then that our lives will be fruitful. May Christ strengthen our resolve to follow him, increase our spirit of communion and move us to give and share without reserve. Amen!
CALICEM SALUTARIS ACCIPIAM !!!
No comments:
Post a Comment