JESUS FEELS... JESUS FILLS
There’s a beautiful place in Infanta, Quezon named Pag-ibig Prayer Garden owned by Dennis and Dulce Abcede of the Pag-ibig sa Diyos Charismatic Community, one of the transparochial groups that I shepherd. It’s a sprawling garden shaded with trees, containing various flora and fauna, and lagoons. There are life-size reproductions of biblical scenes, such as that of Mama Mary looking at Joseph carrying Baby Jesus; Jesus saving Peter from drowning in a small lagoon representing the Sea of Galilee; and so on.
Each visit is capped with a sumptuous lunch prepared by my former pilgrims from Infanta and Real. Quezon’s gastronomical delights complement the spiritual food we receive from the prayer garden. Returning to Manila, they give us the leftovers so we would not go hungry on the road.
This is the same reason why Jesus performed the miracle of the multiplication of bread. He took pity on the big crowd. He did not want them to go hungry for they had come from faraway places. His heart broke at the thought that these people braved long dangerous trips in order to see Him, listen to and learn from Him. And there were seven fish which He also blessed. There were enough bread and fish for each of the four thousand people. “Enough” seems to be an understatement. For after gathering the fragments left over, they still filled seven baskets.
Filled with the immense teachings of Jesus, they never felt hungry. His words filled their hearts and souls. That could have been enough. But our Lord knew they would not be able to make it back to their hometowns unless their stomachs were full. Just like the people of Infanta and Real, Quezon, who would not let us go without filling our vehicle with packed food and drinks. They would not allow us to go hungry on the road.
As Jesus departed to the region of Dalmanutha, He was more than sure, as He willed it, that no one among them would go hungry. He feels and fills your hunger. No wonder, you’re never hungry. Fr. Erick Y. Santos, OFS
REFLECTION QUESTION: How sensitive are you about the hunger of other people?
Lord Jesus, thank You for giving me material and spiritual bread each day.
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