18th Sunday in Ordinary Time 2020

 Jesus came to show us the way to the Father. He proclaims the Kingdom of Heaven. We have been hearing this for a number of weeks. This week, we see the Kingdom of Heaven in action. Jesus feeds the multitude of people with just five loaves and two fish. Our first reading tells us that God calls all those who want to drink. Those who are thirsting for God will be satisfied. One who is thirsting for God is one who will drink whatever God gives. Jesus gives food to the hungry crowd. One thing that we must remember is that if we are truly thirsting or hungering for God, we will accept whatever he gives. There were only five loaves and two fish. Jesus fed them with just that, there was no sauce and no condiments.The crowd accepted what was given them.

I believe that we, who live in affluent Singapore, are a little spoiled. We criticise when it is not up to our taste. Sometimes, we would like to be satisfied with what we desire, not what God gives. Our second reading tells us that nothing can come between the love of God and us. However, the problem is that sometimes, even though there is nothing coming between the love of God and us, we still do not accept it. It is available to us but we would want the love of God in our own terms. It is when that happens that we reject the love of God. The obstruction is not something between us and God, but we ourselves. 

So let us come to the point of today’s reading. God calls us, are we responding? If we are one of the crowd in the presence of Jesus, and Jesus passes on the fish and loaves, and we are not particularly fond of fish, are we going to accept the food given to us? Let us remember that we have no claim to God’s love, nor what He wants to give us. He freely gives. We must freely receive. It is when we attach conditions to what He freely gives that we are not freely receiving. How can we claim a right to God when we, as sinners, do have the right to claim anything from the Creator?

Let us be grateful to the gift of God’s love. No matter what form it takes, let us be grateful. Let us pray for the grace of gratitude.