07.01.25 Menemukan Kebahagiaan dalam Berbagi

Tuesday after Epiphany "Mk 6:34-44" As he went ashore he saw a great throng, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things. And when it grew late, his disciples came to him and said, "This is a lonely place, and the hour is now late; send them away, to go into the country and villages round about and buy themselves something to eat." But he answered them, "You give them something to eat." Jesus was moved with pity for those people and “began to teach them many things.” Finally, it was growing late. It was time to call it a day, the disciples thought, or people wouldn’t have time to get something to eat. ‘They don’t need to get anything’; Jesus said: "You give them something to eat." ‘But we have nothing!,’ the Apostles thought. “You give them!”, said Jesus, as if saying: ‘I have taught them… now it’s your turn! Give them from what I have given you.’ Because every time God asks us to give, He wants us to give from what we have received. You remember the rest of the story. They brought Him five loaves and two fish. And Jesus arranged it so that 5,000 could eat and 12 basketfuls of leftovers were gathered. But in order to give, we first need to receive. This is especially true of our spiritual formation. The Church offers so many means of formation that we are free to accept. When you have the chance to receive formation, remember that you have a duty to share it with others. During his prayer a young student was struck by that command of Jesus: ‘You give them’. He started feeding the poor in the streets but later understood that Jesus was asking him to share ‘more’. He gave food, time, formation, help… but he still wasn’t at peace. He wrote years later: “’You give them,’ said Jesus in my prayer. And I gave my time. That wasn’t enough. Still He insisted, ‘Give them!’ And I decided to distribute food. But Our Lord kept saying to me, ‘You give them!’ I studied and gave them my knowledge and formation. It didn’t bring peace to my soul. Still I could hear Him insisting in my heart, ‘You give them!’ And I never found peace until I gave MYSELF.” He is now a young priest. Mary, my Mother, I know that your Son still needs generous people who know how to give themselves to others. I pray through your intercession, Virgin Most Admirable, that God may multiply our generosity.