Scripture:
Isaiah 25:6-10a
Matthew 15:29-37
Reflection:
In all of our readings today, we see that we have a Father who provides for his children. Even when things look bleak, He will provide. When the apostles tell Jesus they have only 5 loaves and 2 fish, he doesn’t complain that they don’t have enough, rather he prays. He knows His Father will open heaven and provide. It’s a classic tale of walking by faith and not by sight. Looking at the loaves and fish, we would say there’s no way to feed everyone, but Jesus looks beyond what is to what is possible with faith and with God.
I want to live my faith with that much confidence! I for one often look at the negative before I can see the positive. I look at what seems to be a lack, rather than looking at what God can do for me when I walk by faith. I’m reading a book called Daring Greatly by Brene Brown and she says that we live in a “culture of never enough.” She says we wake up in the morning and say we didn’t get enough sleep, and we go to bed at night saying we didn’t have enough time in the day to get everything done. Living with that frame of mind can cause discouragement as we perceive scarcity rather than blessing.
How much better to wake up and thank God for another day believing that He will provide for all of our needs according to His riches in glory! (Phil 4:19) Living with grateful hearts will help us to live in peace and joy as we focus on our blessings instead of what we don’t have. Brown calls it living “wholeheartedly.” I for one want to do a better job of seeing the glass half full rather than half empty. Thank you, Lord, for eyes to see beyond what seems to be.
Janice Carleton and her husband Jim live in Bainbridge Island, Washington, and partner with Passionist Fr. Cedric Pisegna in Fr. Cedric Ministries. She is the mother of 4 grown children and grandmother of 6. Janice also leads women’s retreats and recently published her second book: God IS with Us. Visit Janice’s website at http://www.janicecarleton.com/ or email her at [email protected].