WHAT DO YOU HAVE: ONLY A LITTLE?

          Today’s Gospel (January 8, 2014) gives us a practical lesson to live.  The Gospel reading from Mark 6:34-44 brings before our eyes a Herculean task, Impossible thinking, and a Possible solution.  Herculean task given by Jesus to the disciples: “You yourselves give them something to eat.” Impossible thinking by the disciples: “"If we are to give them food, we must go and buy two hundred silver coins' worth of bread."  And the Possible solution given by Jesus:  "You have some loaves: how many? Go and see." In other words WHAT DO YOU HAVE?

          This event: Jesus feeding five thousand people occurs in all the four Gospels. Matthew and Luke will say when Jesus asks the disciples to feed the crowd the disciples already say that we have only five loaves and two fish which is not enough for the crowd and Jesus asks them to bring and make the people to sit.  John records the event as when Jesus asks the disciples to feed the crowd Andrew brings the boy who had only five loaves and two fish and Jesus asks to bring it to him and make the people to sit.  Mark gives a slightly different and more practical version of it all.  When Jesus asks the disciples to feed, the disciples did not think about what they have, they did not even check it out whether they have something, instead, respond quickly telling him that they need 200 silver coins to buy the bread for all.  Here, Jesus tells them to check out WHAT DO THEY HAVE.

          In my reflection this speaks some practical solution for the impossible things in my life and in the world.  When some problem arises our immediate thinking is that it’s something impossible for us to do or to face.  We always forget that when God sends the problem, he sends his grace together with it to face the problem.  He never expects us to do something which is beyond our capacity or ability.  He expects us to start with WHAT WE HAVE. 

          OUR LITTLE STEPS WILL HELP US TO REACH HEAVEN.  St. Therese of Child Jesus said, I WILL SPEND MY HEAVEN ON EARTH DOING LITTLE THINGS.  Mother Teresa of Calcutta says, GOD DOES NOT ASK US TO DO GREATER THINGS, HE ASKS US TO DO LITTLE THINGS WITH GREATER LOVE. So, there is nothing impossible in our life or in the world. All we have to do is to check WHAT WE HAVE and to start with WHAT WE HAVE. 

WE SAW THE RISING OF HIS STAR (MT. 2:2)

Today we celebrate the Feast of Epiphany.  When I was listening to the Gospel only two things came into my mind: First, “We saw his star.” (Mt. 2:2) and the second, “When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him” (Mt. 2:3) First I would like to reflect on King Herod.  When he heard, “where is the newborn king of the Jews?” he got troubled.  The reason is, as many of us know, because of desire and fear.  He desired the throne and when he felt the child as a potential threat for that desire he feared.  I am not interested to give a deep theological interpretation of this passage.  All I want is to have a simple reflection. In our life when we desire for something or some position and find others who are more capable than us and think that they are potential threat for our desire, then we have fear. This fear leads to anger and frustration.  Let us not think about others as a threat, who knows in times of our trouble they will be the first one to help us.  “Live in peace with one another. Do not dream of extraordinary things; be humble and do not hold yourselves as wise.” (Romans 12:16)

Second, “We saw his star.” (Mt. 2:2) when I read this phrase I remember always, which is in the first reading, “Arise, shine, for your light has come.  The Glory of Yahweh rises upon you.  Nations will come to your light and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” (Isaiah 60:1,3) In my personal reflection we are the stars that show or lead the path to Jesus.  This also corresponds to the words of Jesus, “In the same way your light must shine before others, so that they may see the good you do and praise your Father in heaven.” (Mt. 5:16)  Further, Jesus calls us to shine and to shed light to others, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35)  We are the stars of this modern age to lead men and women, young and old, far and wide to Jesus by letting our light of love and goodness to shine before the nations. “No one lights a lamp and covers it; instead it is put on a lamp stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.” (Mt. 5:15) So, let us shine before the nations so that they will see the star and KNOW JESUS.

ARISE AND SHINE.... (Isaiah 60:1)

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE BEFORE MEN... (Matthew 5:16)