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Sunday, July 25, 2021

Food From God


The WORD today reminds me that God takes care of our needs, physical and spiritual. 

Food is very important for human survival. For us Filipinos, food is essential. We not only eat to survive, we eat simply because we love to eat. A few years back, I had friends whom I go out with to eat and try different restaurants. Friendships are formed and strengthened over meals. In the readings today, we see that God provides us food.

When we think of the miracle of multiplying food, Jesus feeding thousands is the first thing that comes to mind. However, we see in the first reading that a prophet did this already before the time of Jesus. Elisha was the student of Elijah. He was the one who asked a double portion of Elijah’s anointing. And we see in today’s reading he worked wonders. He had great faith in God’s word, and his anointing enabled God to use him mightily to feed people. He had great faith in God, and God made miracles through his word. And in the gospel, we see the popular story of Jesus feeding thousands with just five loaves and two fish. 

God takes care of our physical needs even without us asking him.

The people did not ask Jesus or Elisha for food, but they gave them food. God knows our needs before we even ask from Him. And he provides for us. Always.. however, sometimes what he gives is not what we want. The people may have wanted other food which God did not give them. He may not give us luxury or what we want in life, but he always gives us enough, and he always gives us what we need to survive and continue serving him, continue doing what we do.

God knows us so well, and loves us too much to abandon us. We should be inspired and strengthened by this love of God. He will take care of our needs, no matter how small or simple it may be. He is the great provider, so we just need to have faith in Him and continue to pray, but be humble enough to accept what he gives us, and be grateful for it.

Do I have faith in God? Do I believe that God has my interests in mind, that he will take care of my physical and spiritual needs? Do I come to Jesus in faith, knowing that he can and he will help me? What is my greatest intention that I want to bring God today? 

May we always remember God’s power and his love, and know that he will always provide for us - especially during these trying times. 

Father God,
Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another Sunday. Thank you for the reminder. Lord, thank you for loving me and knowing me. thank you for knowing what I need. Thank you for always providing what I need. I am sorry for the times I don’t appreciate it, or don’t recognize it just because those are not the things I want. Sorry for not having that faith in you, in your love, and in your power. Give me a grateful and humble heart that would gladly accept anything you give me. Give me faith that would always trust in you. I know you will always take care of me. In a special way, I lift up to you myself and my wife as we celebrate our wedding anniversary. Thank you for all the blessings, challenges,  and for always being with ha. Bless our marriage and guide us especially now that we have a daughter already. May your love overflow to us and to our child. Amen. 

Blessed Sunday!

In Christ,
-g-


July 25, 2021
17th Sunday in Ordinary Time; Saint James

FIRST READING

A man came from Baal-shalishah bringing to Elisha, the man of God, twenty barley loaves made from the firstfruits, and fresh grain in the ear. Elisha said, “Give it to the people to eat.” But his servant objected, “How can I set this before a hundred people?” Elisha insisted, “Give it to the people to eat. For thus says the LORD, ‘They shall eat and there shall be some left over.’” And when they had eaten, there was some left over, as the LORD had said.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs. 

Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD, and let your faithful ones bless you. Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might. 

R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs. 

The eyes of all look hopefully to you, and you give them their food in due season; you open your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. 

R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs. 

The LORD is just in all his ways and holy in all his works. The LORD is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth. 

R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

SECOND READING

Brothers and sisters:
I, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you 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: one body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

ALLELUIA

R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

A great prophet has risen in our midst. God has visited his people. 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL

Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near. When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people recline.” Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat. When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, “This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.” Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.


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