One Minute Reflection – 24 April – He always wishes to give more ….

One Minute Reflection – 24 April – Friday of the Second week of Easter, Readings: Acts 5:34-42, Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14, John 6:1-15

Jesus then took the loaves and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated. … John 6:11

REFLECTION – “The miracle consists in the brotherly sharing of a few loaves which, entrusted to the power of God, not only sufficed for everyone but enough was left over to fill 12 baskets.   The Lord asked this of the disciples so that it would be they who distributed the bread to the multitude, in this way, he taught and prepared them for their future apostolic mission, in fact, they were to bring to all, the nourishment of the Word of life and of the sacraments.
In this miraculous sign, the incarnation of God and the work of redemption are interwoven.   Jesus, in fact, “went ashore” from the boat to meet the men and women (cf. Mt 14:14).   St Maximus the Confessor said that the Word of God made Himself present for our sake, by taking flesh, derived from us and conformed to us in all things save sin, in order to expose us to His teaching with words and examples suitable for us” (Ambigua 33: PG 91, 1285 C).
… Christ is attentive to material needs but he wished to give more, because man always “hungers for more, he needs more” (Jesus of Nazareth, Doubleday, New York 2007, p. 267 (English translation).   God’s love is present in the bread of Christ, in the encounter with Him “we feed on the living God Himself, so to speak, we truly eat the ‘bread from Heaven’” (ibid. p. 268).
Dear friends, “in the Eucharist, Jesus also makes us witnesses of God’s compassion towards all our brothers and sisters.   The Eucharistic mystery thus gives rise to a service of charity towards neighbour” (Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis, n. 88). ” … Pope Benedict XVI – 31 July 2011

PRAYER – Stay with us Lord Jesus, be our companion on our way.   In Your mercy enflame our hearts and raise our hope, so that, in union with our brethren, we may share with each other Your food of life.   Listen to the prayers of your Angels and Saints and as we entrust ourselves to the Blessed Virgin Mary, may she open our hearts to compassion and fraternal sharing.   Through Your grace with God our Father and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever amen.