REFLECTION FOR THE 18TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A

THE LORD FEEDS US

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Readings: Isaiah 55: 1-3, Romans 8:35. 37-39, Matthew 14:13-21

Nourishment and affection are two of the basic needs of every human being. Without physical food, we have slim chances of survival and without love, there is no life worth having. The present pandemic has made it impossible for very many people to still have access to these basic necessities. The sick are separated from the warmth of their family members, the students from their teachers, the faithful from their pastors, and parents from their children. The worst is that due to the high number of those that have lost their jobs and businesses within this time, very many families now go to bed at night on an empty stomach. In this period of lack and hunger, the readings of today invite us to come and to be fed freely by the Lord.

In the gospel reading, we read about the first miracle of the loaves and the feeding of the five thousand (Matt. 14:13-21). Matthew tells us that Jesus was moved with pity on seeing the crowds. This group of people represents the very many hungry people in our society today. They are in need of one who like Jesus will take compassion at their plight. They pray daily to God for their daily bread. May we make ourselves available to be used by God to answer their prayers. What touches me most in that passage is the willingness of the owner of the five loaves and the two fish to share what he had. The five loaves and the two fish provided the needs of over five thousand people. In the same way, through our selfless sharing of the little things that we have, we will put smile on the faces of those who have none and bring the change that our world desires.

The disciples wanted Jesus to send the people away so they could go to the villages and buy something for themselves to eat (Matt. 14: 15). The apostles had three seemingly genuine reasons for wanting this. First, it was a lonely place. Second, even if they had to go out to buy something to give them, it was already getting late. Third, even if they were to feed them themselves, what they had could barely feed two people (Matt. 14:16-17). Like the disciples, we always have one reason or the other why we cannot be of help to someone. Like the disciples, how often do we look for escape routes when occasions present themselves for us to be of help to others? How often do we look for reasons to justify the good things we fail to do? Within this time, many business men and women have taken advantage of the corona virus to hike the price of their products. Many employers have hidden under the guise of the present pandemic to deny their workers their just pay. How often do we blame the situation? How often do we fear to begin a journey or an undertaking? How often do we find an excuse to give or someone to blame? Despite the excuses we may have, that needy who is always knocking at our door does not need to walk away unattended to. Like the apostles, Jesus wants us to be instruments of miracle and he is urging us today to give the hungry something to eat; the afflicted, consolation, the homeless a place of shelter, and the naked, something to wear (Matt. 14:16).

We do not give because we have it all neither do we help others because we are in the most favorable condition. If we wait until the time is right or when we have it all, then, we may have to wait till eternity. Basically, if we take anything that we do not need for our immediate use and keep it, then, we have stolen from someone else who needs it for their immediate survival. The reason why most of our politicians are referred to as thieves is simply because they take the money that you and I need for our daily survival and hoard it for their next generation. As we reach out to those who are physically hungry, we should also remember numerous others who lack spiritual and psychological nourishment. In our time, there are many people who suffer loneliness and emptiness, who feel unloved and unwanted. To these also we should show compassion.

Dear friend, Jesus does not free us from physical hunger alone, he also nourishes us spiritually especially in the Eucharist. As St Paul admonishes us in the second reading, may no earthly difficulty or tribulation make us lose sight of the love of God and the ever-refreshing presence of Jesus among us (Rom 8: 34-39). Our Lord is the fountain of life and whenever we come to him, we will have our thirst quenched (John 7:37-38). Our Lord is the bread of life broken for us and whenever we come to him, we will have our fill. Only in the Lord can we find the true satisfaction and sustenance that we seek and these are given to us without any cost (Is 55:1-2). May the Lord always nourish us and also use us to provide the good things that those around us need. Amen.