Sunday, July 28, 2024 

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ! 

The story of Jesus feeding the five thousand was the only significant miracle recorded in all four Gospels. Among many key points of reflections in this story, there was a boy with “five barley loaves and two fish.” He was not famous, and no one knew his name. He was so little in the crowd and what he had would only be enough for him. He could say no to the stranger who came and said that Jesus wanted his food. He could leave the people behind and disappear to take care of himself and keep his belongings for his own sake. However, the story did not happen that way. The boy selflessly gave up his little meal for others, regardless how much he could help. This generous action surely derives from his compassionate care for others and his willingness to give without any concerns. Also, he must surrender control and trust that Jesus could do something mysterious and incredible to manage the crowd, to take care of the people, and to control the situation. Accordingly, Jesus multiplied the small offering of the little boy to feed a crowd of thousands. Everyone at that time was satisfied because of the divine power of God, His miraculous performance and a little portion of a boy with love, faith, and generosity. 

My brothers and sisters in Christ, 

Like the little boy in this story, sometimes we feel so little in the community and lowly in the society; sometimes we feel useless without any talent, skill, or wisdom; and sometimes we feel poor when we have nothing but little time, effort, and belongings. Therefore, we may not feel comfortable to give, to share, and to help others. However, we should keep in mind that God creates us in His image and put into us many special gifts that we have not known or recognized yet. Those gifts include a prudent brain to make the right decisions, a compassionate heart to love, a healthy body to do good deeds, and a faith to trust Him. He also knows us all beyond our understanding and expectation. He knows who we are, what we have, and how we can be used. Therefore, sometimes He wants to call to us in the crowd and allow us to participate in His work as the chosen ones. Sometimes He wants to do eternally amazing things with the little fragments of our lives that are not worth much in our eyes. Sometimes He wants us to walk with Him by faith, trust in His deed, and surrender to His plan. Let us then remember the little boy in this story and follow his example. Let us always give, share, and help others and trust that God will take care the rest. Let us allow God to multiply what we have to feed the hungry, to cure the sick, to help the needy, and to create the heavenly kingdom on earth. 

Sincerely yours in Jesus Christ and Our Lady of La Vang! 

Reverend Kiet Anh Ta.