Bible Scriptures: Isaiah 55:1-5 , Romans 9:1-5 & Matthew 14:13-21 

(Focus shall be centered on the reading from Matthew)

As human beings we have many needs but the problem is that most of the time we are not able to correctly identify those needs. We often do not realise that not all of the needs and hungers are physical and the inability to correctly diagnose them leads to wrong ‘treatments’.

“You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” ~ St. Augustine of Hippo

This means God has made us for Himself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Him and so we reduce the emptiness in us to physical needs and convince ourselves that we would be at peace with ourselves as soon as we acquire this car, marry that man/woman, get that position, etc., thus postponing our peace and joy.

Illustrating further, Matthew 14:13-21 shows us that Jesus handled the needs of the crowd that followed Him. The disciples would have sent them away because they had no food but Jesus had an answer. Even then, He told them to ‘give them something to eat’ (Matthew 14:16). They complained that it was impossible since they had only loaves and two fishes but after Jesus has blessed it, it was enough for five thousand men, in addition to women and children. When we give all we have to God, He does more with it than we expect.

Like disciples we are being called to give the hungry people around us something to eat. In this current dispensation of the COVID-19 pandemic, this provision could be physical, spiritual, emotional or psychological. Our human inadequacies should not scare us into doing nothing; but that we should trust God to help us to identify the true source of the need and to multiply our meagre resources to satisfy those needs.

Amen.

PRAYER: Lord grant me the spirit of kindness and the resources to help those in need.

Until next week guys, stay blessed.