GOSPEL POWER l AUGUST 1, 2022 - Monday of 18th Week in Ordinary Time

Saint Alphonsus Liguori, bishop  and doctor of the Church

Gospel: Mt 14:13-21 

13When Jesus heard of the death of John the Baptist, he withdrew  from there in a boat to a deserted place by himself. But when the  crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. 14When  he went ashore, he saw a great crowd; and he had compassion for  them and cured their sick. 15When it was evening, the disciples came  to him and said, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is now late;  send the crowds away so that they may go into the villages and buy  food for themselves.” 16Jesus said to them, “They need not go away;  you give them something to eat.” 17They replied, “We have nothing  here but five loaves and two fish.” 18And he said, “Bring them here to  me.” 19Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass. Taking  the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to heaven, and blessed  and broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, and the disciples  gave them to the crowds. 20And all ate and were filled; and they took  up what was left over of the broken pieces, twelve baskets full. 21And  those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and  children.

We see in this episode how Jesus helps his disciples make  a shift of perspective — from regarding a situation as  merely problematic, to seeing it also as an opportunity. For  the disciples, being with the hungry crowds in a deserted place, at  a late hour, with only a meager amount of food, is a big problem.  They ask Jesus to change the situation by dispersing the crowds,  so they can buy their own food. But Jesus replies by offering them  the opportunity to be food-providers for the crowds. The disciples  protest, for all they see is the scarcity of the available food. Now, Jesus  teaches them what they — and what we too — must always do in the  face of seemingly irresolvable problems — “Bring them here to me.”  Yes, place them in the hands of Jesus. By doing this, we connect with  his perfect faith in his gracious Father. The disciples learn that, in the  hands of Jesus, scarcity is turned to abundance. As Jesus hands them  the food for distribution, the disciples truly become food-providers  for the crowds. Problem has become an opportunity. Lord Jesus, draw us into your perspective and help us to see life not as a  succession of problems but of opportunities. Amen.