Daily Reflection for Monday, August 01, 2022
Peace and Blessings, Friends and Parishioners,
We encourage you to reflect on Monday’s readings at this link:
http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/080122.cfm
If you prefer to use your own Bible, the readings are:
First Reading: Jerimiah 28:1-17
Responsorial: Psalm 119:29, 43, 79, 80, 95, 102
Gospel: Matthew 14:13-21
Our reflection on Monday’s readings:
But they said to him, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.” Then he said, “Bring them here to me,” Matthew 14:17-18
Today’s reflection reminds me of a devout Christian woman that I met when we were both young mothers. Perhaps because of his youth, a close relative of hers did some things that brought him into conflict with the law. His arrest and imprisonment were heart-breaking to this young man’s mother as well as to the rest of the family. The prison was several miles from the city and the young man’s mother didn’t have the means to visit her son regularly.
My young Christian friend had great compassion as well as dependable transportation. Seeing this mother’s suffering, she used the resources she had to ease her suffering by making regular trips to the prison. These visits brought her into contact with families with similar needs: incarcerated loved ones and no dependable transportation. Visits for these families were infrequent and difficult to arrange.
My friend’s compassion allowed her to recognize their need. Her faith prompted her to present their need to God. With her cooperation, God turned her compassion and her faith into a ministry that has given countless families regular and dependable access to their incarcerated loved-ones across the state of Indiana. Fittingly, she named her endeavor Use What You’ve Got Prison Ministry.
In today’s Gospel reading we see something similar in the disciples’ concern for the crowd. They must have been incredulous when Jesus said “…give them some food yourselves.” However, the Disciples took what little they had and gave it to Jesus. He in turn blessed what they gave him, increased it to feed the multitude with food left over.
Perhaps that is what Jesus continues to tell us, his disciples. Be ever on the look-out for people and situations that can benefit from your compassionate perspective. Take what you have and give it to Jesus. He will bless what you give him for the sake of your faith and abundantly bless both the object of your compassion as well as you, yourself.
What persons or situations stir your compassion? What resources do you have? Give them to Jesus and receive his abundant blessings!
God bless you, dear friends.
Melissa Kittrell