Feeding the Spiritually Poor

Today's Gospel of Matthew speaks to me in this way.  God’s love is unconditional.  His love never stops even if we resist loving him.  Just as Jesus felt the need to get away to a place of solitude, so we too sometimes need to get away to a place to grieve our losses.  At times when I feel my losses are too much to bear, I am reminded that Jesus is always at my side and is providing everything I need in this life.  Jesus is calling us to give from our bounty given to us by God no matter how little we have in our reserves to give.  If we pray for the Lord to feed a spiritually deficient society, then we must be willing to give no matter how small the blessing.  When we give to others who are spiritually or physically poor the Lord blesses our actions abundantly.  Jesus will take the amount we give and increase it abundantly in order that all God’s children will be fed.  When we are willing to give from the Lord’s blessings Jesus will bless the bounty from which we give, no matter how little we give.  We are called to bless our Brothers and Sisters in need of love and compassion.  In order to give we must replenish our bodies in prayer with our Father, so that he can give us the strength we need to continue his purpose for our lives.  God calls us to get away with him in a place where we find silence and solitude in order that we can give our love to him.  Jesus wants to console us, assist us and rejuvenate us in him, so that we may have the strength to persevere in this life on our quest for the Kingdom of God.   In today’s Gospel Jesus wanted to get away after learning of the death of John the Baptist, but, the crowds would not allow it.  Jesus did not turn away the crowd; instead he had pity on them and provided for their needs.  Jesus was not selfish.  Jesus is compassionate and giving.  He generously gave of himself even when he would have rather had solitude with the Father.  I hear Jesus speaking to me in my life calling me to the same spirit of unselfish giving of my time, blessings and talents.   Have you ever tried to get away to be alone with the Lord and was called by God for another purpose?  Where you willing to make the sacrifice to feed God’s children in their time of need?  Today, try to be aware of the needs of others and give in a spirit of charitable love and compassion from your abundant blessings?   I have many blessings to be grateful for today, especially the compassion and love given to me in my time of need.  May my friend be blessed in her spiritual poverty with the same unselfish love and compassion she was so willing to provide to another hurting soul.  I pray that I have given to a soul in need today from my surplus of blessings to help another in need of spiritual rejuvenation.  God is the source of all things, let us look up to heaven in a spirit of intimacy and love for our Father and thank him for all of our blessings on this day the Lord has blessed us with.  How is the Gospel speaking to you in your life today?    Let your sustenance be the Lord who strengthens you.   God love you and blessings to you and your families. 

Mt 14:13-21

When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist,
he withdrew in a boat to a deserted place by himself.
The crowds heard of this and followed him on foot from their towns.
When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd,
his heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.
When it was evening, the disciples approached him and said,
“This is a deserted place and it is already late;
dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages
and buy food for themselves.”
Jesus said to them, “There is no need for them to go away;
give them some food yourselves.”
But they said to him,
“Five loaves and two fish are all we have here.”
Then he said, “Bring them here to me, ”
and he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass.
Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven,
he said the blessing, broke the loaves,
and gave them to the disciples,
who in turn gave them to the crowds.
They all ate and were satisfied,
and they picked up the fragments left over—
twelve wicker baskets full.
Those who ate were about five thousand men,
not counting women and children.

Commentary on today's Gospel go to http://comelordjesus.com/index.cfm?load=page&page=248