The Hand of the Lord Feeds Us

The Scripture readings for the 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time can be found at http://usccb.org/bible/readings/072615.cfm

An ambassador from a poor country had an opportunity to travel to New York City. While in New York, this foreign diplomat was given the "red carpet treatment." After a two-week stay, the ambassador was escorted to the plane. As the diplomat boarded, a reporter asked, "During your stay in New York, what was it that impressed you the most?" Smiling at the reporter, the diplomat said, "I was impressed with your trash cans!" Confused, the interviewer asked why. The ambassador said, "Because with all the food you toss out, I can feed my people with it a long time!"

As Jesus feeds the 5,000, we are reminded of our call to share our resources with others. Realizing this, we should be aware not only of what we use but, more importantly, the things we waste. With Jesus, nothing should go to waste. Instead, it should be given to those in need!

In our first reading from the 2nd Book of Kings, Elisha  shows us the importance of showing compassion, particularly to those in need. During the time of Elisha, the poor were allowed to pay their debts by selling themselves or their children as slaves. Many of the poor in Third World countries today continue to sell their children to adoption agencies in order that other members in their families may live.

Through God, Elisha orders rich people and creditors not to take advantage of these people, especially during their time of extreme need.

In this chapter of 2 Kings, we see four  miracles that God works through Elisha. In this miracle, the last of four, God provides food for 100 men. These miracles shows the love, concern and care for those who are faithful to the word of God.

Showing compassion is something that God expects of all of us. If we do what we can, God will bless us as well as those we help.

St. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, challenges the Church's believers to function as a living body of Christ. Paul's vision is that believers grow together as the Body of Christ. Unity does not simply happen; we have to work at it. As believers, how are we achieving this goal in our lives?

We are God's chosen people through Christ. We are his representatives in this world! Paul calls us to be worthy of this call  by being humble, gentle, patient, and understanding. Can people see Christ in us in how we respond to others?

No matter what our gifts are from God, big or small, we are to use them to build the community of Christ in service to others.

In the Gospel for today we see the offering of a young child, offered to Jesus in service to others, to become one of the most incredible miracles! Regardless of who we are or what little we have, we should never think that we have nothing to give.

If we ask the Lord, we shall receive and, in many ways, this will be in abundance. We should be more conscious of this the next time we have anything left over, for example: food, clothing, appliances, furnishings, anything that we may no longer need or want.Instead of throwing things out, we should be ever mindful of the poor and needy who could use them. Jesus teaches us in the use of leftovers. Be aware that the item you might discard in your trash cans can be the one thing that could, by your kindness and thoughtfulness, bring another person closer to God.

Despite the feeding of 5,000 people  as well as gathering all the fragments, the fact remains that our Lord not only fed them, but he also continues to feed us in a  more marvelous way in the Eucharist.

As a community united in the Spirit, may we become more aware of the Lord who saves us. May we recognize how the Eucharistic presence makes us more aware of our Lord and strengthens our commitment to serve God by helping others, particularly those in need.

Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

The month of July is an important month for all Carmelites. On July 16^th we commemorate, with great solemnity, the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. In the first book of Kings, chapter 18, we hear of the beauty of Mount Carmel and how the prophet Elijah defended the faith of the true God of Israel. It is there that Elijah showed that there is but one God in heaven. The people of that time turned from the Lord God and were praying to the false gods of Baal. Once the prophets failed to show that there was a god known as Baal, Elijah came forward to offer sacrifice to God, praying, “LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, LORD! Answer me, that this people may know that you, LORD, are God and that you have turned their hearts back to you.” (1 Kings 18: 36-37) With great power and glory, God made His presence known and the people prayed, “The Lord is God! The Lord is God!” (1 Kings 18:39)

Like a true prophet, God was always at the center of all Elijah did. Elijah was always ready to show the presence of God to His people. Later in 1 Kings, Elijah is quoted as saying, “I have been most zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts…” (1 Kings19:10).

Then centuries later, at the beginning of the thirteenth century, under the title of “Saint Mary of Mount Carmel,” the Order of Carmelites had its formal beginning on Mount Carmel. The monks originally were called to live in solitude on Mount Carmel. But as the years went on, the early monks started to move throughout Europe and the order grew and devotion to Our Lady of Mount Carmel also continued to grow. It is through her openness to the will of God in her life that Mary is center to the lives of every Carmelite.

Pope Paul VI, in his Allocutions, said of Mary, “We can readily see that the Blessed Virgin Mary was endowed in high measure with remarkable interior enlightenment, such as might have been anticipated in view of her sinlessness and the nature of her task in the world.” Pope Paul VI goes on to say, “She teaches us how to listen, how to explore, to accept, to make sacrifices; she teaches us how to meditate, to wait, to examine; she teaches us self-possession, and calm, absolute assurance in judgment and action; she teaches us, in short the fullness of prayer and communion with God.”

As we commemorate the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, let us imitate Elijah in being zealous for the Lord, the God of host, and, Mary, in being always ready to do what God asks of us and to have Christ in the center of our lives.