Commentary on the Gospel of
Again, we are met with differences in perspectives, something we referred to yesterday in the Lectio Divina. The Israelites see “nothing” but manna; and the disciples see “nothing” but a few loaves of bread and some fish. In their perspective, these are terribly inadequate to cater to the needs of the people around. They only see scarcity. The “lack” defines their vision and approach to life.
But for God, these little things offer rich possibilities. Whatever little manna, bread, and fish available become sufficient enough and more to feed the needs of the people! Once the possibilities are seen, they become actualities.
The lack of healthy perspective in the people as well as the apostles is because of their failure in holding on to the grateful remembrance of God’s many workings in the past. The Israelites “forgot” how God brought them out of Egypt; the disciples forgot Jesus’ many miracles of the past days and weeks. If God had provided them then, He can provide now as well.
Am I good at remembering the mercies of the Lord?
Paulson Veliyannoor, CMF - frpaulson@gmail.com
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Mon 5th Aug. Fr. Luis Manuel Suárez CMF
The “onions of Egypt” … In the middle of the desert they sound good. The people of Israel have started to walk. But tiredness has overwhelmed them and, also with it, nostalgia because of the little they had there in this desert… The “onions of Egypt” are a mirage. Because they are not the present, and they weren’t really so good: they tasted of slavery.
If you have started to walk a distance and, after some time, you feel nostalgia for the securities of the past, stop yourself, remember the better goal to which you have been called, feed yourself and keep on walking. The promised land is closer than when you started to walk!
For all those tired walkers in life, Jesus –in today’s Gospel and everyday- is a comforting Presence, true Food and an invitation to be companions on the way: “Give them something to eat yourselves”.
