Stewardship Reflection – August 2nd

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

IS 55:1-3; PS 145:8-9, 15-18; ROM 8:35, 37-39; MT 14:13-21

Today’s readings should inspire the Christian steward with deepened gratitude to our God, Who loves us with such fierce and tender love. We must make an intentional response every day to return love for Love.

In our Second Reading, from Romans, St. Paul reminds us that nothing and nobody can keep God from loving us. No anguish, distress, persecution, famine… and we might add pandemic, economic loss, relationship strife — nothing — can keep our God from His faithful love for us. God has got us in the palm of His hand.

And yet, this reassurance is only the beginning of God’s gifts to us. Our Gospel passage from Matthew recounts the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fish. This of course, is a foreshadowing of the miraculous gift the Eucharist, which feeds us not with bread but with the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus.

Let’s look at the opening verses of this passage, for they reveal a little of the tender heart of Jesus for all of us. “His heart was moved with pity for them, and he cured their sick.” What generous and compassionate love He shows.

But even that is not enough for our Lord. He remains with them, ministering to and teaching them well into the evening. The disciples suggest that Jesus should send them away so that they could buy some food. But Jesus will not hear of it. He insists that the disciples feed them right then and there. And then, He provides the miraculous abundance of food out of the few loaves and fishes the disciples could round up.

What a privilege for those disciples to participate in Christ’s miraculous plan for His people. This privilege is ours, too, as Christian stewards. Let us make a grateful response to such amazing love.

— Stewardship Reflections by Catholic Stewardship Consultants