Multiplication

Today’s gospel talks about the "5 loaves 2 fish" (John 6:1-15) miracle again. For some reason, everytime I read about that, I’d get some new insights out of it.

The lesson this time is that, in order for Jesus to multiply, we must overcome our sense of inadequacy and give out the tiny bits that we are able to offer. Being generous is more than just the willingness to give, it also means having faith in Jesus, that He can turn our tiny offerings into something we could never have imagined. And that only by giving freely, we can receive in abundance. If I keep wondering why He doesn’t give me certain things (thus putting the focus on myself and forget the needs of others), I’d never receive from Jesus.

Another insight is from St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (Eph 4:1-6). St. Paul urged in his letters over and over again, asking us to "live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace". When we read the Bible, it’s too easy to just read the passage, thinking about it for a few minutes, and put it on the back of our minds. This is precisely what Jesus talks about in His parable of the sower (Mt 13:18-23). Basically I have been hearing the word and forget/ignore/not understand it. When it comes to living out the virtues as mentioned by St. Paul, I have failed miserably.

Lord, please help me, for I don’t know how to help myself.