What crosses do you encounter in your service? - Daily Reflections August 5,2013

GOD GATHERS HIS SERVANTS

 

Thousands of men and women followed Jesus because of His miracles and powerful preaching. In today’s Gospel, what He planned to be a time of rest became a time for healing and more. Jesus performed the miracle of the loaves. The evangelist noted the look of compassion in Jesus’ face for the crowd. Rather than sending them back, He gave them something to eat with the help of those who offered their loaves of bread and fishes. But He didn’t just feed their physical hunger; He also fed their souls.

       Tradition has it that the miracle was relayed later to the early Christian community to give them hope. The event was a foretaste of what is to come. It is an experience of the Kingdom of God, where no one will be hungry. With God, everyone will be satisfied. One day, He will gather everyone in celebration. That is also why Jesus often used the image of a feast to portray the Kingdom.

       Jesus gathered the leftovers after everyone had their fill. We can find a very good message in this act. The loaves stand for the Christians who offer their lives in service to the Lord. Like the loaves of bread, after serving their purpose and giving much, if not their whole selves, the Lord will gather them to Him. He will comfort, nourish, heal or rejuvenate them for yet another service.

       As a priest who has given my life for the ministry, I find great consolation in this. Just thinking that the Lord will gather me to Him gives me peace and contentment. It also inspires me to be zealous and serious about my ministry. Knowing that the Lord will be there in the end gives me confidence, joy and courage to empty myself for Him. The priesthood is a thankless job. Many people believe that they deserve to have “all of me.” Their demands at times make me tired and spent, sometimes broken. But knowing that God will gather me to Him makes the cross easier to bear. Fr. Benny Tuazon

 

REFLECTION QUESTION: What crosses do you encounter in your service?

 

I accept every cross, every trial that goes with serving You, Lord. I know that, in the end, You will gather me in Your arms, and that gives me hope to bear all things.