Shanborlang Mawrie csc –
Readings: Gen 3: 9-24; Mk 8:1-10
Today’s gospel speaks about the miracle done by Jesus in feeding the four thousand people with seven loaves and a few small fish which he receives from the crowd. Looking at the large crowd that has been with him for three days, he moved with compassion. What bread and fish from our life would we like to offer to God? We can reflect on this question.
God has blessed us with abundance of gifts and talents which are not to be kept with ourselves but to share with others. But often we become proud of the gifts and talents which we have received from God. We become selfish, and we tend to use them for ourselves. Jesus has always had a practical approach to the situations of the people. When they are with him for many days, he understands them, he has concern for them because they have nothing to eat. He also knows that getting food in a desolate place is impossible.
As human beings, the disciples think that it is not possible to feed such a multitude of people. In the helplessness of the disciples, Jesus opens their eyes to the possibilities around them. The generosity of the people to give the fish and bread to Jesus when he asks, helps him to multiply their generosity to feed about four thousand people. Jesus could have done it all by his own power. Yet, he wants to teach us the value of sharing what we have with others. Imagine the extraordinary things that would happen if we are sincere to God and generously share our gifts and talents with others.
The crowd in the Gospel invites us to be generous in contributing what we have for the good of others. God will bless and multiply it with hundred folds. If not, God will call us like he called Adam and Eve in the garden ‘where are you?’ It is not to punish us, but to teach us to be sincere and generous with the gifts and talents which we have received from him.