July 26, 2009
17th Sunday, Ordinary Time, Year B
I recently attended a conference on Children’s Liturgy. During the conference a question was asked whether children are capable of silence. Can children keep quiet to pray? To answer this question a priest narrated a story about a child of four or five years who was with him in the blessing of a house. The little child was quiet and was intent in praying with the priest. Then, a group of visitors arrived and entered the house not knowing that the blessing is on-going. They were talking among themselves. The little child looked at them and raising his finger on his lips said, “Shhhhhh. Pray!” And the priests concluded the story by saying, “We adults can learn a lot from children.”
Yes, we can learn a lot from children. Adults can learn from children. The gospel today is a perfect example of this. Jesus performed a miracle by multiplying the loaves and the fish to feed the more than five thousand people who followed him. From where did the fish and loaves came? In the words of Andrew, “There is a little boy here who has five loaves and two fish.” Jesus took the loaves and fish, gave thanks to God, and distributed them to the crowd. All had their fill and the apostles were able to collect baskets of leftovers. The little child shared the little he had and trusted that Jesus will take care of him.
God can only multiply those that are offered to him. God can only bless those that are entrusted to him in the spirit of filial confidence that God will take care, that God will provide.
Sino ba sa atin ang ayaw sa pagpaparami ng Diyos ng mga bagay na meron tayo? Sino ba sa atin ang ayaw sa masmaraming biyaya at pagpapala mula sa Diyos? Pero kaya lang pong paramihin ng Diyos iyong mga inaalay sa kanya. Kaya lamang paramihin ng Diyos iyong ipinagkakatiwala sa kanya. Oo, gusto nating lahat na mapuno ang ating mga pangangailangan, subalit magagawa lamang ito ng Diyos kung tulad ng bata sa ebanghelyo, iaalay natin sa kanya anuman ang mayroon tayo sa pagtitiwalang hindi niya tayo pababayaan. Amen.
