Abundance

Good morning, Sisters and brothers

Beloved children of God

In the first reading today, we hear that the Old Testament prophet Elisha, the man of God, took a small amount of food, 20 barley loaves and fed 100 people. Not only fed 100 people but to an abundance there were leftovers.

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Today’s Gospel from John

We hear a similar story…

Paraphrasing

One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him,

“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?”

Jesus said, “Have the people recline.” Now there was a great deal of grass* in that place. So, the men reclined, about five thousand in number.

Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted.

When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.”

So, they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets* with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat.

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This is a true miracle. I could talk for over an hour on these readings but…

I’d like to focus on this one thought.

From very little food, bread and fish, came an incredible abundance.

God can take very little and bring an abundance !

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Have you ever experienced an abundance from God? Not materially, spiritually.

Love, consolation, strength, courage, guidance, wisdom, fortitude…

For some, these truths of our Faith in the Gospel stories…May be met with a skeptical ear.

Like suddenly we all come from Missouri, ??and we need to be shown.

The fact is beloved children of God… we are shown everywhere, every day, and at every time… if we but only open the eyes of our hearts, we see His Truth, Mercy and Love in abundance that God shares with us at every moment.

I have a question for you… could use more abundance in your life?

The choice is easy and what’s required in simple. Let’s make a commitment

A commitment to…Invite God deeper into our life.

Make him the 1st priority of the day.

If you are able to come to daily Mass you’re halfway there.

If Mass is not possible daily, When you wake and have your coffee or tea.

Pray authentically, and heart filled and here is the important step then silence.

A good prayer life needs both.

Like a good conversation we need to talk and listen. If all we are doing is talking is difficult to listen.

Begin to read the Gospel of the day and savor each word and ponder a while.

Remember what we heard in the 1st and Gospel readings today…

He only needs a little.

A little of our daily life

A little of our daily thoughts

A little of our daily attention

And each time we do these things, I promise…

We’re giving Him a little more of our life, But when I say our life, I really mean the life He gave us.

We, you and I, did nothing to, earn, achieve, or deserve…anything!? But He did!

So, Let’s try today. Yesterday is behind us.

Tomorrow may not come. We have only moments.

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Now, let us open ourselves to more…

More often walking in His light. His wisdom.

More often recognizing our complete dependance on God.

More often...Living in His love and here’s the big Part…Drumroll… And sharing it.

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In the Epistle this morning St Paul is saying the exact same thing. But of course much more eloquently ?

I, a prisoner for the Lord,

urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received,

with all humility and gentleness, with patience,

bearing with one another through love,

striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace:

Peace… if there is an imaginary wall that keeps us from reaching out to our neighbor, relative or colleague... we need to knock that down from our side of the wall. Then turn that wall into a bridge of kindness and openness strengthened with authentic humility…So we may once again recognize all as...

one body and one Spirit,

as you were also called to the one hope, of your call;

one Lord, one faith, one baptism;

one God and Father of all,

who is over all and through all and in all.

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That my sisters and brothers is how God, can take a little and make it an abundance.

It’s our call to do the same “to live in a manner worthy of the call we received,

with all humility and gentleness, with patience, and change the World.