Reflection for December 2, Wednesday of the First Week of Advent: Matthew 15:29-37

Gospel: Matthew 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.

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Reflection:

What do you do when you see the poor? Do you go out of your way to give them something to alleviate their hunger? 

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.” 

Try closing your eyes and imagine that you’re with the disciples and meditate on these profound words of Jesus, imagine that the Lord is saying these words to you. Did you discern that Jesus is telling you to be His instrument in feeding and helping those who have nothing in life? 

In these hard times where hunger is commonplace because of the Covid-19 pandemic, Jesus is also telling us that: “Your heart should also be moved with pity for those who are poor and hungry. For those who have nothing in life, for those who are being oppressed and for those who are weak and abandoned. 

It’s easy to say I will help or do something to help the poor and hungry. But the real test of discipleship is not with words. The real test is when we act and do something which are concrete and tangible. Let us not be afraid to help because this is what the Lord wants us to do. Let us also not worry because whatever help we give for as long as we give it from the heart will come back to us in manifold ways. 

Have you already extended help to the poor and hungry during this time of Covid-19 pandemic? – Marino J. Dasmarinas