Reading and meditation on the Word of God, Monday of the 18th week of ordinary time, August 5, 2019. Numbers 11, 4b-15; Matthew 14, 13-21. Voice: deacon Igan sdb (gospel) and father Peter sdb (meditation)
The theme of our meditation today is: God Cannot Bear With Our Hunger. To say that God cannot bear with our hunger is to say about His will to bring us salvation. His care for the needy and small ones is the central of His generous and compassionate heart. According to the readings of today, the needy and small ones are those who are starving. They are actually hungry for physical food to satisfy their stomachs.
God’s people who wandered in the desert often experienced hunger, because there was not much food in the desert. Therefore God provided them manna and meat. Yet this food was not enough to satisfy them. They still complained and protested because life as a wanderer in the desert is full of suffering.
Jesus Christ fell pity over so many people who followed and listened to Him. When they needed to eat because they were tired and hungry, they themselves did not have food and obviously there no way to find it. This sensitivity of Jesus was not felt by the apostles. They also were not sure that God could provide any food in a deserted place where they were at that moment. Finally the miracle happened: Jesus multiplied five loaves and two fish to feed thousands of people.
Beyond that physical hunger such as empty stomach and thirsty throat, the Lord Jesus gives His attention for what mostly needed that is the salvation of their souls. The Israelites headed towards the promised land to reach a happy life in God’s love and protection. For those thousands of people, Jesus knew very well the dryness of their souls, so they really needed a shepherd who would encourage, guide and provide a way of salvation for them.
Shepherding in the Church is very important and should not be overlooked or even forgotten. This is not only in the sense of the existence of leaders such as ordained clergies and persons with religious habits. In a broad sense, a pastoral care that involves assistance, animation, protection, advocacy, and empowerment aimed at all people should be in its proper direction, so that the daily life of the faithful becomes dignified and developed.
So Jesus cannot not bear our hunger is indeed in its purpose to sustain us in our physical and spiritual lives as His beloved people, at least to give us a life in this world decent and good. With this perspective, we can look at our lives in the future, tomorrow and after with full optimism. Today, let’s have a prayer intention for the pastoral mission in our Church, that with this mission the life of people in the society will be well taken care through various loving services.
Let’s pray. In the name of the Father … In Your love and mercy, O Father, we want to put all our needs, especially today, so that we can receive Your blessings throughout this day. Glory to the Father … In the name of the Father …