Generosity
The story is told about a preacher who asked a farmer if he should preach since he was the only one who showed up for the service. The farmer said: “If only one of my cows showed up, I would feed him.” So the preacher preached, but it was a very long sermon, after which the farmer said: “Reverend, if only one of my cows showed up, I wouldn’t feed him all the hay.”
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In today’s gospel (John 6, 15), Jesus fed the 5,000 people who came to see and hear Him. The miracle of the loaves and the fish happened to the crowd because of a boy who shared his five barley loaves and two fish. Generosity is the key to make everyone happy.
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If Jesus were to ask you today to part with whatever you treasure, would you do it for Him, and for His people? Amazing that boy! What a good lesson and reminder for us adults who are good in hoarding, all in the name of safety and security.
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The generous boy was anonymous. We don’t even know his name, or what happened to him after this gospel episode. Did he get a reward? Did he become a baker or a fish dealer? We don’t know. What we do know is that he played a very important role in that moment. In the end, it’s not what the crowd says. It’s what the Lord says that really matter.
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The crowd had their fill, but did they learn their lessons well? It seems not, and it seems the “crowd” never will. Jesus wanted to teach them about generosity, sharing, and caring, and all that the crowd wanted was to make him their king so that they will never be hungry again. Shallow and narrow-minded are they who seek only what is good for their body, and not what is good for everybody.
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Jesus teaches us to withdraw from the crowd, and have time to be alone and to be silent. Please remember that our most important appointment every day is our appointment with God, and that God’s opinion of you is more important than public opinion.
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“One for the money, two for the show.” This is the creed for people who choose to live a shallow, vain, empty, and meaningless life in this world, and a tormented life in the next.
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“Rain, rain, go away!” Many of us have been praying this for some days now, but let us ask ourselves why? Most of our prayers are often for our own personal agenda and concern. Perhaps we could or should add the communal aspect of this prayer like, for people affected by the rain and the floods, for the government workers who serve, and for Mother Nature herself. Let us learn to be generous even in our prayers.
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Don’t you wish Jesus and His disciples were still around to manage the distribution of food, or relief goods, financial aid, vaccines and other commodities especially this time in our country? No delays or kickbacks, no grandstanding, no photo-ops, no politics! Definitely, Jesus is still around. What He needs are true, sincere, and self-sacrificing disciples in this our present day and time. As we pray to the Lord to send us prophets, and leaders, let us also look beyond those who peddle themselves to be servants, but who turn out to be masters or monsters of the people.
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Sharing with you this prayer: “Lord, I put everything in Your hands today — my family, my health, my home, my security, my fears. You are the only one I trust with all I have and with all I am. Amen.”
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Think about this: “It wasn’t your alarm clock that woke you up this morning; It was God’s grace and mercy.”
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A moment with the Lord:Lord, teach us true giving and generosity. Amen.
