The prophet Isaiah reminds us that God desires for all to have abundant life, for each person’s hunger, thirst and need to be met abundantly – without need to pay, without demonstrating the “right behaviour”, without earning the gifts of life. In the Gospel, Jesus challenges the disciples beyond the reality they can see: “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.” The miracle is there is enough for us all, if we will do things differently than we have. Today’s world is challenging: addictions, poverty, unequal distribution of resources, greed, politics – so many things threaten the lives of God’s people. Will we be agents of getting food to the hungry, drink to the thirsty, homes to the homeless, and relief to the suffering, or will we use excuses, apathy, and self-protection to stand in the way? It’s not about politics – it’s about following God who extends life to all.
Prayer: For willingness to be agents of God’s unconditional love – and life – for all people, we pray to the Lord. God of the hungry, teach us to give to those most in need. Blind us to the excuses we use to measure worthiness, in favour of seeing all your people as destined to abundant life. Shake us out of our complacency and self-protection, that we may never stand in the way of others’ receiving what they need to thrive. Amen.
Taken from the Facebook page of Roman Catholic Diocese of Calgary.
