Daily Gospel Reflection for August 4, 2025

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

There is a saying we have all heard: “You can’t give what you don’t have.” It is often quoted to encourage self-care and taking time for rejuvenation.

However, today’s Gospel gives it a different twist. After taking the small offering of loaves and fish, Jesus blessed and broke them. Then He “gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds.” The disciples received from Jesus. In fact, they received in abundance. From that abundance, they gave. Before, they had had enough food for one family, not enough for more than five thousand. “You can’t give what you don’t have.”

This dichotomy really strikes me. Before Jesus’ blessing, they lacked what the crowd needed. After, they gave from abundance.

As a mother, I often feel stretched beyond my limits. Our children demand much of us. More time, more energy than we have to give. It can be incredibly wearying.

However, I have noticed that if I am rooted in prayer, if I am going to Jesus for what I need, offering the little I can, somehow I have enough to give them. My days generally go more smoothly, and I enjoy the interactions with my children more than if I haven’t prayed. I am able to give to them from a place of greater abundance rather than from a place of scarcity.

Sometimes I don’t feel the abundance, but I know I’m giving from a place of plenty anyway because Jesus is blessing and multiplying what I offer and making it more than adequate, adding to what I give.

Jesus takes the little we have, blesses it, and multiplies it. He gives to us so that we, in turn, can offer what we have been given to those we love.

Ponder:

Do I come daily to sit at Jesus’ feet and receive from Him? Where have I sensed Jesus giving to me so that I can turn around and provide for my family or for others?

Pray:

Lord, I offer you my littleness and my inadequacy as the disciples offered You the loaves and fish. Please take what I have and multiply it and help me to share what You give with those around me.

CM DGR daily sq