"Dose pa ka alat ang napuno nga nabilin"

Ebanghelyo subong nga Adlaw (Mateo 14:13-21)
Lunes (Agosto 5)

Sang pagkabati sini ni Jesus, naghalin sia sadto nga duog nga nagsakay sa sakayan kag nagkadto sa isa ka baw-ing nga duog nga isahanon lang. Sang nahibal-an ini sang mga tawo sa nagkalainlain nga banwa, nag-apas sila kay Jesus nga nagalakat lang.

Sang pagtakas ni Jesus, nakita niya ang madamo nga mga tawo. Naluoy gid sia sa ila kag gin-ayo niya ang ila mga masakiton.

Sang sirom na, ang iya mga gintuton-an nagpalapit sa iya kag nagsiling, “Madulom na kag baw-ing ini nga duog. Palakta ang mga tawo agod makabakal sila sang ila kaunon sa mga baryo palibot.”

Nagsabat si Jesus, “Indi na kinahanglan nga maglakat pa sila. Kamo mismo ang maghatag sa ila sing pagkaon.”

Nagsabat sila, “Wala gid kami diri sing pagkaon, kundi lima gid lang ka bilog nga tinapay kag duha ka isda.” 

Nagsiling si Jesus, “Dalha ninyo ina diri sa akon.”

Ginsugo niya ang mga tawo nga maglingkod sa hilamon. Dayon iya ginkuha ang lima ka bilog nga tinapay kag duha ka isda, nagtangla sa langit kag nagpasalamat sa Dios. Ginpamihakpihak niya ang tinapay kag ginhatag niya sa iya mga gintuton-an, kag ginhatag ini sang mga gintuton-an sa mga tawo.

Ang tagsatagsa nagkaon kag nabusog. Dayon gintipon sang mga gintuton-an ang nabilin kag dose pa ka alat ang napuno.

Ang mga nagkalaon mga 5,000 ka mga lalaki, wala labot ang mga babayi kag mga kabataan.

Prayers:

"Lord Jesus Christ, you satisfy the deepest longing of our heart and you feed us with the finest of wheat (Psalm 81:16). Fill me with gratitude for your blessings and give me a generous heart that I may freely share with others what you have given to me."

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Reflection of the Daily Gospel:

How do you treat others, especially when they interrupt your times of rest and quiet? When Jesus and the disciples sought a lonely place to regroup and rest, they found instead a crowd of more than five thousand people waiting for them! Did they resent this intrusion on their hard-earned need for privacy and refreshment? Jesus certainly didn't but welcomed them with open-arms. Jesus put human need ahead of everything else. His compassion showed the depths of God's love and concern for all who are truly needy. Jesus gave the people the word of God and he healed them physically as well as spiritually. We can never intrude upon God nor exhaust his generosity and kindness. He is ever ready to give to those who earnestly seek him out. Do you thirst for his saving word and for his healing power?

Why did Jesus command his disciples to do what seemed impossible – to feed such a large and hungry crowd when there were no adequate provisions in sight? Jesus, no doubt wanted to test their faith and to teach them to rely upon God for their provision. The signs which Jesus did, including the miraculous feeding of the five thousand signified that God the Father had indeed sent his only begotten Son as the anointed Prophet and King for his people. Jesus' feeding of the five thousand is the only miracle recorded in all four gospels. What is the significance of this miracle? The miraculous feeding of such a great multitude pointed to God's provision of manna in the wilderness for the people of Israel under Moses' leadership.This food foreshadowed the true heavenly bread which Jesus would offer his followers. Jesus miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes points to the superabundance of the unique bread of the Eucharist or Lord’s Supper which Jesus gave to his disciples on the eve of his sacrifice.

Jesus made a claim which only God can make – "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35). He is the true bread of heaven that satisfies the deepest hunger and longing which every human being experiences in this life. The feeding of the five thousand shows the remarkable generosity of God and his great kindness towards us. When God gives, he gives abundantly. He gives more than we need for ourselves that we may have something to share with others, especially those who lack what they need. God takes the little we have and multiplies it for the good of others. Do you trust in God's provision for you and do you share freely with others, especially those who lack?