Thank You, Lord

Today’s gospel is a very familiar one – Jesus feeding four thousand people with seven loaves and a few fish. There are different variations in other gospels, but same content. Jesus feeds them from a very few resources. Some say that God literally multiplied the food, others say that people gave in whatever they have, and it was enough to feed everyone, may sobra pa. Others say it’s both. Well, whatever happened, God sure fed those people, ang galing talaga nya!

What is interesting to note is how Jesus prayed over the food. He just did not ask to multiply them at once. He first thanked God

Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them,
and gave them to his disciples to distribute,
and they distributed them to the crowd.
They also had a few fish.
He said the blessing over them
and ordered them distributed also.

Why? He thanked God for the blessings – na mayroong nagbigay ng tinapay at isda, kahit konti lang. He thanked God for the people who came with him and stayed with him for three days. He thanked God because he had faith that God would work and feed everyone present. That act was not only of gratitude, but of faith as well.

Let’s examine our prayers. Do we thank God, or do we just ask from him? Do we remember to thank him for the blessings he has been giving us? Do we even thank Him for answered prayers? Do we pray in faith, thanking him because we know he will make a way?

Let’s be inspired by Jesus’ prayer, and may we always remember to thank God. Let us pray as well for faith, that we may be faithful to God, especially when things are tough, and not be like the people in the first reading who forgot who God was and what he has done in their lives, especially when it was easier and more comfortable to worship other gods.

God bless!