Daily Gospel Reflection for August 7, 2023

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

Today’s Gospel reading of the feeding of the 5,000 has so many topics to reflect on: Jesus healing when He was tired, Jesus testing the apostles to give from their own supply and trust in His powers, Jesus asking His Father’s blessing before performing the miracle, and the surplus of food Jesus supplied – just as He always provides more than what we need.

But what strikes me the most is Jesus’s comment:

“Bring them here to me.” Matthew 14:18

Jesus had asked the apostles to hand over their own food, knowing that He was capable of multiplying whatever they had. He asked them to give to God all that they had - without question, doubt, or reservations. He asked them to trust that God can create blessings from their meager offerings.

God created each of us with unique abilities, and He puts us in situations that He knows we are capable of handling by sharing these talents with others. He wants us to trust Him that He will aid in our task, if only we “bring them to Him.” He doesn’t want us to hoard them for ourselves or our immediate family, or use excuses that we don’t have the time or energy. He just wants us to be like the apostles and give without questioning.

The Chosen drama series about Jesus and His disciples presented an amazing portrayal of this miracle in their third season, where they actually used 5,000 volunteers to film it. I’d highly recommend watching it and remembering that this miracle wouldn’t have happened had the apostles not given what Jesus asked of them.

Ponder:

What is God asking of you to give today to share your talents with others around you?

Pray:

My dear Jesus, You don’t ask more than what we are capable of giving because You provide us with the abilities and turn them into blessings. Help us to trust in Your power and provision and fill us with the desire to “bring them to You.”