The WORD today reminds me that God thinks of our complete nourishment - physical and spiritual.

The gospel tells us one of the more famous gospels – Jesus feeding a lot of people. There are various accounts of this. In today’s gospel, We see Jesus feeding the people not just physically when he multiplied food for them, but first, spiritually which was the primary food he gave them even before the physical food. He taught them and he healed them. Spiritual nourishment. Then when it was late and dark already, Christ gave them physical food for their bodies.

God loves us so much that he gives us not only spiritual nourishment, but also physical nourishment.

Love is the reason for this season. Love is the reason why we are celebrating Christmas - God sent his only Son to save us from our sins. Love should also be our primary reason for living – to spread God’s love to each other. The first reading reminds us that God saved and provided for us, and a good way to thank him is by passing that saving love to others. And one way of loving one another is to care and share what we have with one another – which what other people said about the gospel, that the miracle is not Jesus multiplying food, but the real miracle is the hearts of the people were changed and the shared food with each other because of love.

We may not have a lot. But for God, what we have is enough. The people only had few food, definitely not enough to feed thousands. But God takes what we offer and magnifies it. No matter what situation we are in, we still have enough to share with others.

The same way God nourishes us, so we should do our part to nourish others. We can be a blessing to others in a lot of ways, especially during this pandemic and after the typhoons and floods. Doesn't need to be big ways, as with the story, God can magnify whatever we give for him. We just need to act and trust him.

Do I come to God for nourishment of not only my body, but more importantly, my soul? How can I nourish more my soul as I prepare for Christmas? Do I graciously share my blessings to others, especially this season? How can I give more to others?

May we be inspired to not only nourish our bodies, but more importantly, our spirit. May we allow God to transform us and expand our hearts so we can share more and love more – to make him more alive here.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for the reminder that you nourish not only our body but our spirit as well. Lord, I ask that you be with me in a special way today. Help me always be reminded to nourish not only my body, but more importantly, my spirit. Lord, it is easy to know and be reminded when my body is weak, when I am hungry, but not as easy to detect spiritual hunger…so I ask you Lord that you disturb me, wake me up and give me warnings when my spirit is running low, when I am spiritually hungry. And Lord, may I be sensitive and respond to it. In the same way, give me the heart that would be ready and willing to share what I have to help and nourish others as well. Amen

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

Wednesday of the First Week of Advent

Lectionary: 177

Reading I

Is 25:6-10a

On this mountain the LORD of hosts
   will provide for all peoples
A feast of rich food and choice wines,
   juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines.
On this mountain he will destroy
   the veil that veils all peoples,
The web that is woven over all nations;
   he will destroy death forever.
The Lord GOD will wipe away
   the tears from all faces;
The reproach of his people he will remove
   from the whole earth; for the Lord has spoken.

   On that day it will be said:
“Behold our God, to whom we looked to save us!
   This is the LORD for whom we looked;
   let us rejoice and be glad that he has saved us!”
For the hand of the LORD will rest on this mountain.

Responsorial Psalm

23:1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

R.   (6cd) I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
   In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
   he refreshes my soul.
R.    I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
He guides me in right paths
   for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk in the dark valley
   I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
   that give me courage.
R.   I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
You spread the table before me
   in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows.
R.   I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.
Only goodness and kindness follow me
   all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
   for years to come.
R.   I shall live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Behold, the Lord comes to save his people;
blessed are those prepared to meet him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel

Mt 15:29-37

At that time:
Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee,
went up on the mountain, and sat down there.
Great crowds came to him,
having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute,
and many others.
They placed them at his feet, and he cured them.
The crowds were amazed when they saw the mute speaking,
the deformed made whole,
the lame walking,
and the blind able to see,
and they glorified the God of Israel.

Jesus summoned his disciples and said,
“My heart is moved with pity for the crowd,
for they have been with me now for three days
and have nothing to eat.
I do not want to send them away hungry,
for fear they may collapse on the way.”
The disciples said to him,
“Where could we ever get enough bread in this deserted place
to satisfy such a crowd?”
Jesus said to them, “How many loaves do you have?”
“Seven,” they replied, “and a few fish.”
He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground.
Then he took the seven loaves and the fish,
gave thanks, broke the loaves,
and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds.
They all ate and were satisfied.
They picked up the fragments left over–seven baskets full.

My Simple Reflection

Wednesday, December 1, 2021

Complete Nourishment