Homily (Reflection) for Friday of the
Second Week of Easter (8th April, 2016) on the Gospel
Acts 5:34-42;
Ps 26:1.4.13-14 (R. cf. v. 4);Jn 6:1-15.
Topic: Show of affluence.
Today’s gospel passage is one of well-known passages in the
bible, the feeding of the five thousand. Jesus asked Philip, “Where are we to
buy bread for these people to eat?” Philip replied in his innocence, “Six
months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.” However,
Andrew intervened, “There is a boy here who has five barely loaves and two
fish. But what are they among so many people?”
Jesus asked the people to sit down. He then took the loaves,
after giving thanks shared them to the people. He did the same thing to the
fish. When the people are satisfied, Jesus said to His disciples, “Gather up
the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.” They filled 12 baskets
with the fragments.
We can learn a lot of things from this passage but we will highlight
just two. Imagine one with only about 1000 dollars face-to-face with a problem
that will require up to 100000 dollars. Giving thanks to God might be the last
thing one will expect to find in his/her head. Jesus with five barely loaves
and two fish before five thousand people first gave thanks to God. We ought to give
thanks to God always and for everything, cf. Eph 5:20.
Jesus who can bring anything into existence out of nothing anywhere
asked His disciples to avoid waste. Sometimes some think that they have surplus
of something but God has never given anything in surplus to anybody. The problem
is that some keep back others’ shares, cf. Ex
16:18; 2Cor 8:15. What we suffer today in our respective countries and the
world in general is not poverty but lack of knowledge, cf. Hos 4:6. True show of affluence is in transforming lives and not in
wasting wealth as many do today thereby making others’ suffer. Just as the 12
baskets would feed so many more people, what we waste today can eradicate
poverty in the world. God promised us a land in which we will lack nothing, cf.
Deut 8:7-10; Ps 34:10. Let’s make it
happen.
Bible Reading: 2Cor 8:1-15.
Thought for today: Take just your share.
Let us pray: Lord, bless us with wisdom to know
that all your gifts are meant for everybody – Amen.
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