Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Before working the miracle of the multiplication of the loves and fish, described in today’s Gospel, Jesus poses a question to his disciples in order “to test them”. Where are they going to get enough food to feed the crowd? The result: They see their own poverty in achieving their goal.
Doesn’t he repeat this question to me whenever I contemplate the future? Do I ever reflect that his answer to me is the same that he gave to the disciples, namely, he knows my needs and that without him I can never satisfy them? So, what’s my reaction?
There is another invitation for personal prayer that Jesus gives me in the account of this miracle. Namely, he took bread, gave thanks and gave it to the crowds. Wasn’t this a preview of the Eucharist?
Where does the Eucharist fit in my life? How personal is it to me? Do I ever pray that it will be more available to greater crowds if more apostles are on hand to distribute it? In other words, do I often pray for more priestly vocations, especially in my own diocese? And, when possible, do I ever make a visit to the Blessed Sacrament?
Resolve. I shall ask the Holy Spirit to make me more aware of the importance of the Eucharist in my life so as to add the little I have to Jesus’ continual sacrifice for the salvation of the world. I shall also ask him to increase the number of priests to make the Eucharist easier for more people to receive, praise, and adore him in the Blessed Sacrament.