Reflection for Monday August 4 Memorial of Saint John Vianney, Priest: Matthew 14:13-21

Gospel: Matthew 14:13-21

When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself. The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns. When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.  

When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said, “This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” He said to them, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.”  

But they said to him, “Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.” Then he said, “Bring them here to me,” and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds.  

They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up the fragments left over— twelve wicker baskets full. Those who ate were about five thousand men, not counting women and children.

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Reflection:

Do you truly believe that Jesus loves you—deeply and unconditionally—no matter who you are, no matter the sins you’ve committed? His love is not earned by merit or perfection. His love is freely given, especially to the humble and the brokenhearted. Jesus’ love for ordinary people—those who place their trust in Him—is immeasurable, and this is powerfully revealed in today’s Gospel.

The disciples were anxious. A great crowd had gathered to follow Jesus, the day was drawing to a close, and there was no food in sight. So they said to Him, “This is a deserted place and it is already late; dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves” (Matthew 14:15).

But those very people the disciples wanted to send away were the same ones who had faithfully followed Jesus—many of whom had already experienced His healing touch. And with a heart full of compassion, Jesus responded, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves” (Matthew 14:16).

The disciples were stunned. How could they feed such a multitude? They momentarily forgot—or perhaps had taken for granted—that Jesus was with them. This was the same Jesus who had been performing miracle after miracle in their midst. Had they grown so accustomed to His presence that they began to see Him as ordinary?

How easy it is for us to fall into the same pattern. When the Lord walks beside us daily, we sometimes fail to recognize Him for who He truly is—our Savior, our Provider, our God. We forget that the One who multiplied bread for the hungry can also fill our emptiness and nourish our souls.

And so, we too take Him for granted. We grow indifferent to His love. We neglect the beauty of our Catholic faith. At times, we skip Holy Mass without a second thought, or we attend merely out of obligation rather than out of love, reverence, and longing for Him.

But Jesus never forgets us. His gaze never turns away. Even in our weakness and sin, His heart remains open, inviting us to come to Him. He sees our hunger—not only for food but for meaning, for peace, for love—and He longs to satisfy it.

So let us remember: Jesus is not just with us; He is for us. He longs to do great things in our lives. He desires a relationship with us that is alive, personal, and transforming. He wants to feed us—not only with bread, but with His very self.

How’s your relationship with the Lord? Is He someone you merely acknowledge from a distance—or is He the very center of your life? – Marino J. Dasmarinas