17th Sunday in 2015

Our Gospel is taken from John 6: 1-15. In this Gospel, we can notice that it was very difficult for the disciples to volunteer themselves in providing people some bread to eat.  But in this same Gospel, it was very easy for them to suggest, appoint or pinpoint someone to do it for themselves. Look at also the words they used: Philip said, “It would take MORE than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread…” Andrew said, “…how far will they go among so MANY.” The words they used somehow reveal to us that when one is asked to give something, either that something is a money or goods, he/she considers not only the amount that comes out from his/her pocket but also the numbers of the recipient. The mere thought of the words MORE and MANY hinder one to give and find his/her justification that one cannot do something about the other’s suffering. Yet, in this same Gospel, Jesus solved what seemed to be a BIG problem by using what the disciples considered SMALL. In the Gospel there is this boy –a small person compared to an adult with 5 SMALL barley loaves and 2 SMALL fish. Jesus took all these and gave thanks before distributing them. Jesus did not focus on the BIG problem, rather He thanked God for what they had though how small these seemed to be. In thanking God for the seemingly SMALL gifts, problems could not grow bigger without any solution. This Gospel reminds us that we should not ignore the small things we have, rather we thank God for them as a sign of His goodness.

Let me end with a sharing of my personal experience in the parish. In our parish at Ca-Ma-Ca, it was very difficult to ask from people some financial assistance for the repair and maintenance of the parish due to their economic situation. I understand that they already have budgeted their money long before they receive it for their family as well as for the education of their children. If ever they could contribute for the parish, I could tell who could give more as well as those who could not give even a centavo. Thanks to the Parish Youth Council then when its members tried to make rounds from one house to another house during Christmas and on the Feast of Christ the King. As they visited our parishioners from one house after the other to say some prayers for them, the home-owners would give them snacks or a maximum sum of 20 pesos. They eventually earned much from these activities that they spent their money not only for the repair and maintenance of the parish but also for its improvements. This is a concrete experience on how small good things can solve big problems. This experience leads me to thank God for both small and great things He has showered upon our parish. Amen.