Gospel: Mark 8:1-10
In those days when there again was a great
crowd without anything to eat, Jesus summoned the disciples and said, “My heart
is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three
days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they
will collapse on the way, and some of them have come a great distance.” His
disciples answered him, “Where can anyone get enough bread to satisfy them here
in this deserted place?”
Still he asked them, “How many loaves do you
have?” They replied, “Seven.” He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground.
Then, taking the seven loaves he gave thanks, broke them, and gave them to his
disciples to distribute, and they distributed them to the crowd. They also had
a few fish. He said the blessing over them and ordered them distributed also.
They ate and were satisfied.They picked up the fragments left over–seven
baskets. There were about four thousand people. He dismissed the crowd and got
into the boat with his disciples and came to the region of Dalmanutha.
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Reflection:
What happened to the crowd after they were fed
by Jesus? Perhaps they went back to their respective houses satisfied and
spiritually recharged. Did they lead transformed lives? Did they become fervent
and true followers of Jesus? Obviously majority of them did not live
transformed lives and they did not become full blooded followers. Otherwise
they would have not deserted Jesus when He was being persecuted, tortured and nailed
on the cross.
What happens to us after attending Holy Mass
wherein we listen to the words of God and partake of the Body and Blood of
Jesus? Do we allow Jesus to transform us every time we listen to His words and
every time we receive Him during Holy Communion? His fervent desire is to
transform us so that we could become His true followers. This is His desire for
us.
But at the end of the day it’s still in our
hands we still have the liberty to decide for ourselves. If we become His true
followers or not, if we allow His Body and Blood to transform us or not. The
choice is ours to take but the wise choice is to allow Jesus to transform us.
Look around and see the lives of those who did
not allow Jesus to transform them. Look around and see those who followed in
words only. They may be materially wealthy, they may be politically powerful.
But do they have peace, do they have serenity in their lives? – Marino J.
Dasmarinas
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