Food for the soul: Five loaves and two fish

July 25,2021

The Holy Gospel

John 6:1-15

After this, Jesus crossed the Sea of Galilee -- or of Tiberias- and a large crowd followed him, impressed by the signs he had done in curing the sick. Jesus climbed the hillside and sat down there with his disciples. The time of the Jewish Passover was near.

Looking up, Jesus saw the crowds approaching and said to Philip, 'Where can we buy some bread for these people to eat?' He said this only to put Philip to the test; he himself knew exactly what he was going to do.

Philip answered, 'Two hundred denarii would not buy enough to give them a little piece each.' One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, said, 'Here is a small boy with five barley loaves and two fish; but what is that among so many?'

Jesus said to them, 'Make the people sit down.' There was plenty of grass there, and as many as five thousand men sat down. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were sitting there; he then did the same with the fish, distributing as much as they wanted. When they had eaten enough he said to the disciples, 'Pick up the pieces left over, so that nothing is wasted.' So they picked them up and filled twelve large baskets with scraps left over from the meal of five barley loaves.

Seeing the sign that he had done, the people said, 'This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.' Jesus, as he realised they were about to come and take him by force and make him king, fled back to the hills alone.

Source

Reflection

Today's gospel focus into the three things; blessings, miracles and faith.

Blessings

The gospel today focus to the blessings that we had not just with food but all of the blessings we had received in life. That whatever we received is from God in heaven. The food that we eat, the money that we buy of daily needs, the clothes that we wear, the house that shelter, the knowledge, the guidance. Basically everything is from Him alone. Yes, we work for it for as to have it but understand that the health you have in order for you to continue living and doing your job is from the heavenly Father. Am I correct?

Miracles

The five loaves and the two fish that was consumed by thousands of people in that time and was fed by Jesus was a great miracle. A miracle out of pure love and generosity. He had seen that the people were hungry and without hesitation He fed all of them.

In life God didn't turn blind with our needs but He sees all our struggles and He perform miracles in different ways. Small and big miracles. We just tend not to see it because we are too blinded by the idea that a miracle is a big event such as making dead alive or turning deaf to hearings. Believe me when I say that waking up every morning is a miracle much more if we are in good health, for there are a lot of people who had prayed for it and even payed millions just to stay alive. Breathing free air is a miracle, having food to eat and family that loves is so much of a miracle. We just need to be sensitive enough to see that everything we had is a miracle. That being born is already a miracle. Be grateful and much more we will receive.

Faith

Jesus known that five loaves and two fish would not be enough for the thousands of people around but because of His huge Faith with His Father in heaven, asking not for Himself but for the people thus making the impossible, possible. With Jesus faith and act of miracle the people who witness gained Faith.

In life, we must be faithful to God for us to recieved what we have prayed for. We must know how to listen to His answer, Yes because you need it, No, because it's not suitable and not the right thing, wait because I prepared something bigger for you.

Let's have faith always and with this faith that other people will see thus ignited them to have faith as well. With this faith, may there will also be action for what the Bible had said, James 2:14, faith without works is dead, therefore we must put action to our faith. Let us walk what we talk. In order for other people to see and believe that the faith we have is alive. That Jesus is alive in our life through the acts that we give to the people around us.

May our faith be strengthen through the blessings and the miracles that we have received each and everyday of our life.

Closing thought

Brothers and sisters in Christ, may this gospel of today reminded us that the Lord God in heaven never turn deaf with all our prayers. Let's be sensitive and realized that the everyday blessings I sa great miracle that must be celebrated and be grateful for. With this blessings that we receive will strengthen our faith.

Lead image

Happy Sunday everyone. May God bless us all.

Thank you so much for reading. I appreciate you all. I love you 🥰😘