When God gives, he gives a bun dantly. 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?

Monday in the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Jeremiah 28:1-17

Psalm 119:29, 43, 79, 80, 95, 102

M atthew 14:13-21 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a lonely place apart. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. (14) As he went ashore he saw a great throng; and he had compassion on them, and healed their sick. (15) When it was evening, the disciples came to him and said, "This is a lonely place, and the day is now over; send the crowds away to go into the villages and buy food for themselves." (16) Jesus said, "They need not go away; you give them something to eat." (17) They said to him, "We have only five loaves here and two fish." (18) And he said, "Bring them here to me." (19) Then he ordered the crowds to sit down on the grass; and taking the five loaves and the two fish he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the crowds. (20) And they all ate and were satisfied. And they took up twelve baskets full of the broken pieces left over. (21) And those who ate were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

Meditation by Don Schwager

H ow 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 makes a claim only God can make: He is the true bread of heaven that can satisfy the deepest hunger we experience.

The feeding of the five thousand shows the remarkable generosity of God and his great kindness towards us. When God gives, he gives a bun dantly. 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?

"Lord Jesus Christ, you satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts 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."

Supplementary Reading

"Nearness" or "Hereness"?

. . . He will give you another helper, that He may abide with you forever - the spirit of truth...He dwells with you and will be in you. – John 14:16-17 (the words of Jesus Christ)

W ednesday evenings here at the Crystal Cathedral I'm blessed to be involved in a small group – six men led by Pastor, Dr. Bill Gaultiere. Recently, Bill said something that really grabbed my attention and settled deep into my soul. I don't remember his exact words, but I do remember, in a powerful way, the essence of his thoughtful comment. He simply said something like: "There's a difference between the 'nearness' and the 'hereness' of Christ."

"Hereness" instead of "nearness." Wow. This put my thought process into gear big time. A neighbor – living across the street, down the street or even right next door – is near . . . but not HERE. Until he visits my home, stands or sits with me, speaking to me face to face . . . only then is he truly HERE, physically with me.

I think much of our lives we're taught, or otherwise live with, the notion that God is "near." But, too infrequently, or perhaps NEVER, do we understand the FACT that He is truly HERE, right next to you, right next to me . . . NOW . . . in the present. And, really even beyond and better than here – “He dwells with you and is IN you" (John 14: 17). Powerful thoughts, but that's what Christ said. And that's a FACT!

Lord Jesus, You said it, I believe it. Your blessed spirit dwells with me and is in me. What joy is mine because You are HERE. I praise You and walk with You, today, tomorrow and forever. Amen.

What do you sense and see is the difference between nearness and hereness? Have you allowed God near? Have you allowed God here? It's God's promise – it's your choice (Jim Coleman)

GOD BLESS US ALL!

O Theos Na Mas Evlogisi!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.

For past gospel meditations, you may visit the following:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=216458741502#!/home.php?sk=mynotes

http://his-ways-better-than-our-ways.blogspot.com