Daily Scripture Reflection & Prayer: April 12, 2024

Date:   Friday of the 2nd Week of Easter

Scripture Text:  John 6:1-15

Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed him because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near. When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, "Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?"  He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, "Two hundred days' wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little."One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, "There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?" Jesus said, "Have the people recline." Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So, the men reclined, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, "Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted." So, they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat. When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, "This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world." Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.

Breaking the text open – background and summary:

The gospel reading for today is from John’s account of Jesus’ teaching on the Bread of Life. It begins with Jesus feeding a multitude of over 5,000 with five barley loaves and two fish. Jesus seized this opportunity to demonstrate what is possible when we give thanks for what we are given, we turn it over to the LORD, and we are willing to share it even though it seems to the human eye insufficient. Oh, what the LORD can do with generosity of self in gratitude to the LORD’s generosity.

Meditating on the text with personal questions:

Do I truly believe that nothing is impossible for the LORD? Am I grateful for what I have been given and share it freely and lovingly? Do I dedicate, turn over to the LORD for His use, my day, my gifts?

Praying:

LORD, Almighty Father, Beloved Son, Most Holy Spirit, we raise our voices to You in praise for all You are and in thanksgiving for all You have given to us. We recognize that your gifts and grace are not for us alone but for us to use to bring You glory and to bring loving kindness to our sisters and brothers. May the Spirit kindle in us the virtues of generosity and courage that allow us to share freely and lovingly what we have with those in need, not only the tangible but also the spiritual. Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.