Jesus had compassion for people with the different hungers in their lives especially the hunger for peace with justice.

Reading: Jesus called his disciples to him and said, “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way.” Matthew 15:32.

Good morning, happy Wednesday, and many blessings my dear family.

The opening scene of today’s Gospel (Matthew 15:29-37) is Jesus walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee.  After a time, Jesus went up on the mountain and a multitude of people followed Him.  When Jesus sat down, the people came bringing to Him the sick, the lame and others with all sorts of illnesses and diseases.  When each of these individuals approached Jesus, He quietly healed them.  He didn’t make a “big to do” about it.  He simply had compassion for them.  

This reading is about the abundance that comes from God. This is what salvation means – the fulfilling of all our needs: spiritual, emotional, social and physical. At the end of this story seven baskets are still left uneaten. All this symbolizes the care that God takes of his people.

There is a crucial element in today’s Gospel we cannot overlook. It was not Jesus but his disciples who distributed the food. How do I help to feed and nourish others in my daily life?

Naturally the crowds were astonished when they realized that the mute were talking, the blind were able to see and the lame were walking.  Can you imagine what a wondrous experience it must have been for the individuals who were healed?  They must have been amazed and awed at the great gift Jesus had given to them.  

Each one of us is in need of healing.  It may be a physical or emotional healing.  What is the healing you desire at this time in your life?  Have you asked Jesus to heal you?  How do you think you would respond if Jesus did heal you?  Would you be amazed?  Would you also glorify God?

In today’s world, it may not appear that many miracles are happening.  We know that it is rare for a person who has a serious disease or illness to be cured.  Yet if we look with eyes of faith, if we look deeply, we may see the miracles that happen every day.  They may be small miracles and yet what a gift they are.  We all are lame or ill in some way.  Today may we bring our request, our longing for healing to Jesus!  May we pray for eyes to “see” and hearts to trust Jesus! 

Jesus met people in ordinary situations and shared Good News and healing with them. He had compassion for people with the different hungers in their lives, especially the hunger for peace with justice. He saw beyond the practical questions of his disciples who saw the difficulty of finding food in a desert. They did not realize that the little they had was enough for Jesus who offered thanks, broke and shared and there was much left over. We have a God of lavish generosity.

Jesus did not conjure the loaves and fish out of thin air. He took what was offered to him and multiplied it greatly. We must never think we have little to give others. It is not giving of what we have left over, but rather sharing what we have.

Blessings,

Fr. Luis+