Isaiah 55:1–3; Psalm 145; Romans 8:35, 37–39; Matthew 14:13–21
There Is More in Sharing
Dear friends, today is the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time. There is a refrain in Spanish that says: “Compartida la vida es m’as” – Shared life is more. When I was growing up in the village, the social fabric that held the community together was still strong. Sharing with one’s neighbours was as natural as breathing. I remember that, as children, we would sometimes eat in whichever household lunchtime found us. We were often sent to borrow things from our neighbours—farm tools, cooking utensils, or even foodstuffs.
Perhaps the most fascinating experience was fetching fire. In those days, people rarely used matchsticks because somewhere in the neighbourhood there was always a household with a burning fire. We would carry a few dry leaves and bring home a live ember from a neighbour’s fireplace. Occasionally, the leaves would catch fire before we reached home, creating quite an adventure.
Today, things are very different. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the kind of neighbourhood we enjoyed as children had largely disappeared. People began fencing their compounds, and children were discouraged from eating at their friends’ homes. Suspicion gradually replaced trust. Many people became more selfish, even when they had more than enough. As the spirit of sharing diminished, so too did the peace and unity it once nurtured. In its place came resentment, hostility, and division. Sadly, this attitude has spread beyond neighbourhoods to tribes and even across international borders.
Today’s Gospel presents a similar situation. We encounter three main groups of people, each reflecting a different aspect of our own reality.
First, there is the crowd. They are weary and vulnerable, searching for hope and guidance. The parallel Gospel accounts describe them as sheep without a shepherd, confused and misled by leaders who had failed them.
Second, there are the disciples. As evening approached, they noticed that there was very little food—only five loaves and two fish. They urged Jesus to send the people away so they could buy food for themselves. Their proposal seemed practical and responsible. Although they had witnessed Jesus’ miracles and listened to His teaching, they still struggled to trust completely in His power.
Finally, there is Jesus. Seeing the crowd, He was moved with compassion. He healed the sick and nourished the people with the Good News of the Kingdom. When the disciples suggested dismissing the crowd, Jesus surprised them by saying, “They need not go away; you yourselves give them something to eat.” One can imagine the astonishment on their faces. How could they possibly feed such a multitude with so little? Yet, because Jesus was their Master, they obeyed, even though they did not fully understand what He intended to do.
We often behave like those disciples. We fail to show compassion to those in need because we believe that what we have is too little, even for ourselves. We profess Jesus as our Saviour, yet we hesitate to trust Him with our limitations. We focus on our weaknesses instead of remembering that with God all things are possible. Jesus teaches us today that if we are willing to share the little we have, He will make it enough for everyone. The miracle begins with generous hearts, not abundant resources.
The multiplication of the loaves also points us toward the Eucharist. This miracle is recorded in all four Gospels (Mk 6:32–44; Lk 9:10–17; Jn 6:1–13), demonstrating its importance. In John’s Gospel, Jesus goes on to declare, “I am the Bread of Life.”
The Eucharist we celebrate is the enduring sign of Christ’s presence among us through the Holy Spirit. When we receive His Body and Blood, Christ dwells within us. We are called Christians because we belong to Christ, follow Him, and allow His life to be reflected in our own.
If Christ truly lives in us, then our actions should reveal His compassion and generosity. We are called to become instruments through whom Jesus continues to perform His miracles in today’s world. That means reaching out to others, caring for those in need, and becoming ambassadors of Christ’s love. This is the very foundation of our Christian identity.
If we continue acting like the disciples before they understood Jesus’ mission—sending people away empty and helpless—we must ask ourselves what it truly means to bear the name “Christian” and to participate in the Eucharist. It is an invitation to examine our lives honestly.
In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah invites everyone to come to the Lord, who satisfies every hunger without price. God desires to feed His people abundantly. Yet He usually does so through us. He does not come carrying sacks of maize or beans to distribute to the poor. Instead, He uses the gifts, talents, resources, and opportunities He has entrusted to each of us to become blessings to others.
St. Paul reminds us that nothing outside ourselves can separate us from the love of Christ. It is only we who can distance ourselves from that love. Our selfishness, indifference, bad attitudes, and lack of concern for our neighbours are what separate us from God. The choice is ours. We can become authentic disciples of Christ, or we can remain “lip service Christians”—Christians only on the outside but not in the heart.
May the Lord make us generous enough to share what we have and humble enough to trust Him to multiply our small offerings for the good of many. Dear Jesus, make us as compassionate and generous as You are. Amen.
Blessed Sunday
Fr. Lawrence Muthee, SVD
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 