Homily (Reflection) for Friday of the
Second Week of Easter (28th April, 2017) 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 facing a problem that requires
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 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 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: Is 58:1-14; 2Cor 8:1-15.
Thought for today: Do not keep another’s share.
Let us pray: Lord, bless us with wisdom to know
that all your gifts are meant for everybody – Amen.
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others if you consider it worthy.
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May
God bless you all+
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